Patent Publication Number: US-2021169264-A1

Title: Filtration for cartridge based beverage forming systems and related methods

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS AND PRIORITY CLAIM 
     This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 62/941,868, filed on Nov. 28, 2019, titled FILTRATION FOR CARTRIDGE-BASED BEVERAGE FORMING SYSTEMS AND RELATED METHODS, the subject matter of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The instant disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for filtering liquids, such as water. More particularly, the instant disclosure relates to systems and methods for filtering a base liquid, particularly water, in cartridge-based beverage forming and dispensing systems. 
     BACKGROUND 
     There is an emerging advance in the art relating to beverage additive delivery systems and cartridge-based beverage systems, such as those described in US Patent Publication No. 20170296988, published on Oct. 19, 2017, titled ADJUSTABLE ADDITIVE CARTRIDGE SYSTEMS AND METHODS, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Such systems, owing to the unique features of the cartridges incorporated therein provide for the flavoring of a base liquid, typically water, with flavor concentrate or additive, in a controlled and adjustable fashion, as the base liquid is dispensed from a base liquid container, through the cartridge, and consumed by a user. Moreover, these systems, which are typically utilized in state-of-the-art portable hydration and beverage dispensing and flavoring systems, provide for the flavoring of the base liquid as the user dispenses the base liquid from the container, and prevent backflow of mixed beverage, thus leaving a remaining supply of unflavored base liquid in the container intact. Such systems typically utilize a flavor cartridge with innovative mixing and metering features that rely on predictable and consistent flow rates and pressures in the base liquid flow and in the flavor concentrate flow. 
     Some known filtration systems provide for the drip filtering of a supply of water into a pitcher, where a first reservoir is filled with unfiltered water and allowed to drip through a filter, such as a charcoal filter, into a second reservoir over time. Such pre-filtering of water, however, is not readily adaptable to state-of-the-art portable flavoring and hydration systems where consumers may not want to take the time to prefilter each supply of water contained in the system. 
     Consumers utilizing such systems may obtain their water from different sources, including supplies that may have an undesirable level of contaminants or additives, such as chlorine. It is therefore desirable to have filtration systems on portable hydration systems such as those described above. 
     Known filtration systems are not readily adaptable to state-of-the-art flavoring and hydration systems, such as those described above. 
     It would therefore be advantageous to provide systems and methods that address the aforementioned shortcoming and others in the prior art. 
     SUMMARY 
     Responsive to the foregoing challenges in the prior art, the instant disclosure provides various embodiments of a filtration system for use with a cartridge-based beverage dispensing system, and related methods. 
     Filtration systems according to one aspect of the disclosure may include a filter assembly that may support use and integration with a cartridge-based beverage dispensing system. 
     Filtration systems according to another aspect of the disclosure may provide for filtering of a base liquid, such as water, just prior to mixing with an additive and in such a manner that filtration and flavoring are performed on the flowing base liquid as the beverage is dispensed from the container and consumed by the user. 
     Filtration systems according to one aspect of the disclosure may provide filtration as a user dispenses base liquid from the container. The system may facilitate a “filter and flavor as you drink” delivery of a beverage when used in conjunction with a “flavor as you drink” mixing and dispensing systems, such as those described above. In this manner, the filter system is utilized only for the portion of the base liquid consumed by the user, thereby extending the life of the filter compared to a case in which the entire supply of base liquid is pre-filtered, for example. 
     Filtration systems according to another aspect of the disclosure may provide for easy integration and retrofit with state-of-the-art cartridge-based portable hydration and flavoring systems. The filtration systems may include a cavity or receptacle for accommodating at least a portion of a flavor cartridge and isolating the filter cartridge inlet port or ports such that during dispensing, base liquid must pass through the filter to enter the cartridge ports. This ensures that only filtered base liquid is used in the flavored beverage dispensed to the user. 
     Filtration systems according to another aspect of the disclosure may provide filtration of a suitable volume of base liquid, at a suitable flow rate, with minimal pressure drop in order to ensure minimal impact to the flavoring performance of the additive (flavor) delivery device. The filtration systems may include an annular charcoal filter cloth supported on an internal support frame, providing suitable filtering surface area to filter base liquid at the flow rates typically utilized with state-of-the-art cartridge systems. 
     Filtration systems may be provided to be easily and removable installed on existing delivery systems. In one example, a rotating, locking interface is provide to facilitate easy installation by a user onto a container lid, with the filtration assembly and container lid forming a threaded receptacle for securing a flavor cartridge. 
     According to an aspect, a filter assembly for use with a cartridge-based additive delivery system, the additive delivery system having a cartridge adapted to be secured to a container lid, the cartridge having at least one cartridge base liquid entry port for receiving base liquid, may comprise a filter element defining an interior space adapted to enclose the at least one cartridge such that base liquid must flow through the filter element to enter the cartridge base liquid entry port; and a container lid interface for securing the filter assembly to the container lid. 
     According to a further aspect, the filter assembly may comprise a filter support frame for retaining the filter element on the filter assembly, the filter support frame defining an interior space adapted to receive and surround at least a portion of the cartridge. According to a further aspect, the filter assembly may comprise an end cap cooperating with the filter support frame for retaining the filter element thereon. According to a further aspect, the container lid interface may include a bayonet connection for securing the filter assembly to the lid. According to a further aspect, the filter assembly may comprise a filter cage adapted to at least partially enclose the filter element. According to a further aspect, the filter cage may be secured to the filter support frame with a snap fitting. According to a further aspect, the filter assembly may comprise a container lid assembly for supporting the filter assembly and for enclosing a container of base liquid. According to a further aspect, the container lid assembly may include a filter retaining adapter for securing the filter assembly on the lid assembly. According to a further aspect, the container lid interface may include at least one cantilevered projection adapted to provide a tactile indication of a positive installation position of the filter assembly on a container lid. According to another aspect, the filter element may be comprised of a charcoal filter. According to a further aspect, the filter element may be an annular cylinder. According to a further aspect, the filter assembly may further comprise a container lid and a flavor cartridge secured to the container lid, the flavor cartridge containing an additive supply, wherein the filter assembly at least partially encloses the flavor cartridge and the additive supply. 
     According to a further aspect, a method of assembling a filter assembly for a cartridge-based additive delivery system may comprise providing a support frame having a container lid interface for securing the filter assembly to a container lid; securing a filter element to the support frame; and securing an end cap to the support frame to retain the filter element thereon. According to a further aspect, the method may further comprise securing the end cap to the support frame using a snap fitting. According to a further aspect, the secured filter element may be a cylindrical element. According to a further aspect, the filter element may be adapted to at least partially enclose a flavor cartridge. 
     According to a further aspect, a method of assembling a filter assembly on a cartridge-based additive delivery system may comprise securing an additive cartridge to a container lid; securing a filter assembly to the container lid; and installing the container lid on a container containing a base liquid. According to a further aspect, the method of assembling a filter assembly may comprise enclosing at least part of the additive cartridge within the filter assembly. 
     Other aspects and advantages of the disclosure will be apparent to those of ordinary skill from the detailed description that follows and the above aspects should not be viewed as exhaustive or limiting. The foregoing general description and the following detailed description are intended to provide examples of the inventive aspects of this disclosure and should in no way be construed as limiting or restrictive of the scope defined in the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other attendant advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description together with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like elements throughout. It will be understood that the description and embodiments are intended as illustrative examples according to aspects of the disclosure and are not intended to be limiting to the scope of invention, which is set forth in the claims appended hereto. In the following descriptions of the figures, all illustrations pertain to features that are examples according to aspects of the instant disclosure, unless otherwise noted. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective of a lid and filter assembly. 
         FIG. 2  is another perspective of the lid and filter assembly of  FIG. 1   
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective of the lid and filter assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the filter assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective of the assembled filter assembly of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is cross-section of the assembled filter and lid assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a cross section of an assembled filter and lid assembly of  FIG. 1  in combination with a cartridge and container. 
         FIG. 8  is a pictorial illustration of a method of installing a filter assembly on a lid having a cartridge thereon. 
         FIG. 9  is another detailed perspective of mounting details for the filter assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective of the lid assembly and filter assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-section of the assembled filter and lid assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 12  is an exploded view of the lid assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Details of example embodiments of a container lid assembly and filter assembly are shown in  FIGS. 1-12 . Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , these are perspective views that illustrate an assembled example filter and container lid combination  300 , including an example filter assembly  100  and an example container lid assembly  200  according to aspects of the disclosure. Lid assembly may include a lid base  210  having a gripping band or surface  212  extending around a skirt portion thereof. Filter assembly  100  may include an exterior filter cage  140  and an end cap  130 . Further details of the components of the filter assembly  100  and lid assembly  200  will be described below. 
     Referring additionally to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , an example filter assembly  100  may include an internal support frame  110 , which may support a filter element  120  thereon. Support frame  110  may include a first (bottom) end  112  including an annular bottom ring  113  having a number of recesses  115  formed therein. Recesses  115  may provide for snap fitting of an end cap  130  to the filter support frame  110 . A number of radially disposed struts  116  extend from the annular bottom ring  113  to an upper annular ring  117 , which includes a lid connection interface  119  comprising a number of inwardly extending projections or tabs  160 , which may be cantilevered elements that interact with a “bayonet” type locking slots  236  on the lid assembly  200 . Lid connection interface  119  functions to connect the support frame  110  and the filter assembly  100  to the lid assembly  200 , as will be described. Upper annular ring  117  also includes a radially outward extending flange  118  having a number of projections  111  thereon for cooperating and aligning with an upper portion of outer filter cage  140 . The filter cage may have a like number of complementarily shaped recesses  142  defined thereon for receiving the projections  111  and ensuring proper alignment of the filter cage  140  with the support frame  110 . This ensures consistent flow rates and patterns through the filter cage structure and through the support frame structure. Filter cage  140  also includes an upper, inwardly extending retaining lip  162  adapted to provide a snap fit with the outward extending flange  118  to retain the filter cage  140  on the support frame  110 . 
     An end cap  130  may engage a first end  112  of the support frame  110  and may include projecting tabs  132 , which engage complementarily-shaped recesses  115  on the annular ring  113  of support frame  110  for a snap fit. End cap  130  may include an annular outer ridge or shoulder  134 , which supports and retains filter element  120  on the support frame  110 . End cap  130  also includes an inner ridge  136  which may form a seal with and engage a lower shoulder  114  on the support frame  110 . 
     Filter element  120  may be a flexible, annular woven charcoal filter shaped as an annular cylinder and sized to fit snugly on the support frame  110 . As will be recognized from this disclosure, and described further below, the filter element is adapted to surround, enclose or envelop at least a portion of the flavor cartridge such that all base liquid flowing from the container to the cartridge must pass through the filter element. It is preferable that the filter element have sufficient surface area and permit adequate flow volume of base liquid therethrough while minimizing the pressure drop across the filter element in order to minimize impact to the flavoring performance of the flavor cartridge. 
     Referring additionally to  FIG. 12 , lid assembly  200  may include a lid base  210 , having a threaded skirt for engaging a base liquid container. Lid base  210  may have a snap fit handle  220  secured thereto. A sealing gasket  250  may be installed on the lid base  210  for sealing with a base liquid container. A filter retaining adapter  230  may include an upper flange  231 , which may be secured to an underside of the lid base  210  with a snap fit, and may also include a bayonet-type retaining collar with cutouts  236 , which may provide an interface for securing the filter assembly  100  to the lid assembly  200 , as will be described. A one-way vent  232 , which may be a silicone duck bill valve, may be provided on the lid  200  and secured with a retainer  234  to permit air to enter the interior of a base liquid container, while preventing the flow of liquid out of the container. A gripping band  212  may be an elastomeric band and may be received in a recess formed in the lid base  210 . 
     Assembly of the filter assembly  100  may begin with placement of the filter  120  on the filter cage  110  to an extent that the upper edge of the filter  120  abuts the flange  118 . End cap  130  may then be snap fit on the lower end of support frame  110 , with the lower end of filter  120  engaging the shoulder  134  and filter  120  being retained on the support frame  110 . An outer filter cage  140  may then be installed on the filter/support member/end cap subassembly, with the support frame projections  111  aligned with corresponding ones of the recesses  142  and lip  162  providing a snap fit engagement with the flange support frame flange  118 . Filter cage  140  may include a lower circular cutout  142  for engaging and receiving end cap  130  when filter cage  140  is installed on the support frame  110 . An outer surface of end cap  130  may form a flush fit with a bottom outer surface of the filter cage  140  as best seen in  FIG. 7 . End cap  130  may also provide sealing engagement with the bottom of filter cage  140  to prevent the flow of base liquid via the end cap/filter cage interfacing surfaces and to thus ensure that the only flow path for base liquid to interact with the flavor cartridge is through filter element  120 . Filter cage  140  also includes a number of cutouts  144  which provide flow paths for the base liquid through the filter cage  140  to the filter element  120  and through the support frame  110  into the interior cavity of the filter assembly  100 . Cutouts  144  may be shaped and arranged to provide for desirable flow characteristics and flow volume of base liquid from the base liquid container to the flavor cartridge, which will be partially housed within the filter assembly  100  when the beverage system is fully assembled. As will be recognized, when assembled, the support frame  110  and end cap  130  may form an internal cavity or receptacle  190 , surrounded by the filter element  120 , for receiving a lower end of an additive or flavor cartridge, as will be described. That is, the internal receptacle  190  defines a cartridge receiving space, which is completely surrounded by the annular filter element  120 , thereby ensuring that any base liquid that interacts with or flows through the cartridge, i.e., via the cartridge base liquid inlet ports, must first flow through the filter element  120 . 
     According to aspects of the disclosure, installation of the filter assembly  100  on the container lid  200  may be done quickly and easily by a user with a coupling and twisting motion of the filter assembly  100  relative to the lid  200 . Referring additionally to  FIGS. 5, 6 and 9-11 , filter retaining adapter  230  may include a filter connection interface which may be a “bayonet” type connector integrated thereon, which may include a number of generally inverted “L-shaped” cutouts  236  ( FIGS. 3 and 12 ) on an outer surface of an annular collar  233  extending from the upper flange  231 . The number of cutouts  236  may correspond to the number of projecting tabs  160  on the support frame  110 . The projections  160  on the support frame  110  may be cantilevered, resilient elements, each with a recess  161  on an end thereof. The cutouts  236  on the filter connection interface of the lid  100  may include a correspondingly shaped projection  237  ( FIG. 12 ). 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a cross-sectional view of filtration system according to aspects of the disclosure in combination with a flavor cartridge  400  and base liquid container  500 . Cartridge  400  may include one or more base liquid entry ports thereon for permitting flow of base liquid into the cartridge. Cartridge  400  may be installed on the lid  200  using a threaded cap  410  on the cartridge which may engage a threaded collar on the lid  200 . A bottom portion of the cartridge  400  extends into the receptacle defined in part by the interior of the support frame  110  and end cap  130 .  FIG. 7  shows the general form factor for example flavor cartridges that may be used with the example lid and filter assemblies as disclosed herein. Flavor cartridges used with the filtration system may have attributes of the cartridges and additive delivery systems described in US Patent Publication No. 20170296988, published on Oct. 19, 2017, titled ADJUSTABLE ADDITIVE CARTRIDGE SYSTEMS AND METHODS, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     When container  500  is inverted, base liquid (water) may flow through the filter cage  140  to interact with the cartridge  400 . Water flow proceeds through the cutouts  144  in the filter cage and through the filter element  120  to the interior receptacle defined by the support member  110  and interior of filter element  120 . Filtered water may then flow in a space defined between a cartridge outer casing and the interior of filter  120  to ports in the cartridge  400 . Flow may be towards the cartridge cap  410  where the filtered water may enter into a mixing zone defined in the cartridge where the water is mixed with a flavoring concentrate stored in the cartridge, as the water flows through the cartridge, and then the mixed beverage dispensed out through a spout on the cartridge. The cartridge  400  may have at least one inlet port on a bottom portion thereof to permit entry of base liquid to the cartridge in a base liquid flow path that extends to the mixing zone. As will be recognized, water is filtered as it is drawn through the cartridge and as mixed beverage is dispensed (drank) from the base liquid container. Thus, both filtration and flavoring of the base liquid occur in response to base liquid flowing from the container and through the cartridge. Water is thus filtered only while it is being dispensed and mixed with the flavoring. The supply of base liquid in the container remains unfiltered and unflavored until it is dispensed from the container and consumed by the user. 
     Referring additionally to  FIG. 8 , this figure schematically illustrates an example method that may be undertaken by a user to install a filter assembly  100  on a lid assembly having a cartridge  400  already secured thereto. To install the filter assembly  100  on the lid, a user may align the upper end of support frame  110  with annular collar  233  and align projections  160  with the cutouts  236  on the lid, slide the filter assembly onto the annular collar  233 , and twist the filter assembly  100  relative to the lid  200 . The recess  161  on each projection  160  will click into place when they engage the projections  237 . This interaction may provide sensory (tactile and auditory) indication to the user that the filter assembly has been properly installed. 
     Another advantage of the configurations described herein is that the filter element never encounters mixed beverage and thus remains exposed only to the base liquid (water), which prevents contamination or clogging of the filter that might be caused by exposure to the flavoring concentrate, which thus prolongs filter life. 
     Another advantage of the configurations described herein is that the filter cage may provide an attractive aesthetic quality to the lid/cartridge/container assembly combination, with portions of the filter element being visible through the filter cage cutouts. In addition to providing a filtered water supply to the cartridge as base liquid is mixed with and dispensed through the cartridge, the filter aesthetic also improves user perception of the available filtering function and may enhance user enjoyment of the dispensed beverage. 
     Although the present implementations have been described with reference to specific example embodiments, it will be evident that various modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.