Patent Publication Number: US-2022220004-A1

Title: System and Method for Manufacturing a System for Filtering and Disinfecting Drinking Water

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to water processing, and more particularly, is related to a water purifier. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many kitchen appliances, refrigerators for example, provide drinking water and/or ice dispensers. These appliances typically include a water filter assembly, a typical example  100  is shown in  FIGS. 1A-1B . The broad white arrows indicate water flow. Water flows from a filter inlet  110  through an activated carbon filter cartridge  130  (shown with a heavy dashed outline) within a main housing  150 . The main housing  130  has an axial length D. The filter cartridge  130  contains a carbon filter block  132  that is generally cylindrical in shape with a central channel  135  at the inner core of the filter block  132  of activated carbon. Activated carbon is porous, so the level of filtration is directly related to the pore size. The water enters the central channel  135  from the filter inlet  110  and flows through the filter block  132  (indicated by cross-hatches) through an outer liner (not shown) to prevent carbon particulates from becoming part of the water supply. After passing through the carbon filter  130  and outer liner, the filtered water then flows to a filter outlet  120 . Plastic end caps  140  are attached to the filter cartridge at either end of the carbon cylinder to direct water flow and provide structural support. One or more sealing O-rings  145  may be located at an inlet of the carbon insert  130  to prevent leakage between the filter inlet  110  and the filter cartridge  130 . 
     The main housing  150  is generally a solid material, for example, plastic or metal. The activated carbon filter runs the length of the housing  150  and substantially fills the interior of the housing  150 . While in some instances the housing  150  may be openable to facilitate replacement of the filter cartridge  130 , more often the entire water filter assembly  100  is replaced. 
     The activated carbon filter cartridge  130  provides mechanical (particulate) and chemical filtration. At best these types of filters can provide very limited microbial disinfection. These water filters typically remove certain chemical contaminants, particulates, and, in some cases, relatively large microbiological organisms. These filters do not remove smaller microbiological organisms from drinking water. While removal of such organisms may be performed by separate treatment units, this entails extra space and adds complexity and costs. Therefore, there is a need in the industry to address one or more of these shortcomings. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for filtering and disinfecting drinking water. Briefly described, the present invention is directed to a water filter system with a water filter assembly and an enclosure. The water filter assembly has a housing with a water inlet and a water outlet, a filter portion within the housing, and a reservoir portion within the housing apart from the filter portion. A window in the housing conveys ultraviolet light into the reservoir from an external light source. A water channel conveys water from the inlet to the outlet through the filter and the reservoir portions. The enclosure removably receives the water filter assembly in a cavity within the enclosure. An enclosure water inlet mates with the filter water inlet, and an enclosure water outlet mates with the filter water outlet. A light source within the enclosure is arranged to direct light into the reservoir portion. 
     Other systems, methods and features of the present invention will be or become apparent to one having ordinary skill in the art upon examining the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, and features be included in this description, be within the scope of the present invention and protected by the accompanying claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
         FIG. 1A  is a diagram showing a prior art filter without a window. 
         FIG. 1B  is a diagram showing a cutaway view of the prior art filter of  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 2A  is a diagram showing a first exemplary embodiment of a water filter from a side view. 
         FIG. 2B  is a diagram of the water filter of  FIG. 2A  from a bottom view. 
         FIG. 2C  is a cutaway diagram of the water filter of  FIG. 2A  from a side view. 
         FIG. 2D  is a cutaway diagram of the water filter of  FIG. 2A  from a side view with an external light source. 
         FIG. 3A  is a diagram showing a second exemplary embodiment of a water filter from a side view. 
         FIG. 3B  is a diagram of the water filter of  FIG. 3A  from a bottom view. 
         FIG. 3C  is a cutaway diagram of the water filter of  FIG. 3A  from a side view. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram of a first embodiment enclosure for a water filter of  FIG. 2A or 3A  from a side view. 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram of the first embodiment enclosure  FIG. 4  from a bottom perspective view with the door open. 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram of the first embodiment enclosure  FIG. 4  from a side view with the door open and filter inserted. 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram of the first embodiment enclosure  FIG. 4  from a bottom view with the door open and filter inserted. 
         FIG. 8A  is a cutaway diagram of the first embodiment enclosure  FIG. 4  from a side view with the door closed and filter inserted. 
         FIG. 8B  is the cutaway diagram of  FIG. 8A  with the filter masked out for clarity. 
         FIG. 9  is a cutaway diagram of the first embodiment enclosure  FIG. 4  from a side view with the door open and filter inserted. 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic diagram of a first exemplary embodiment of a water filtering system. 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a system for executing functionality of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a flowchart illustrating an example of an exemplary method for forming a water filtering system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following definitions are useful for interpreting terms applied to features of the embodiments disclosed herein, and are meant only to define elements within the disclosure. 
     As used within this disclosure, “filter” is refers to a device having a fluid path through a porous solid or packed granule material to remove particles smaller than the pore size from the fluid. In general, filtering refers to a mechanical removal of particulates from fluid. However, as the embodiments described below include both mechanical filtering and UV disinfecting aspects, when referring to the overall water processing performed by the embodiments “filtering” may refer to both mechanical filtering and UV disinfecting. 
     Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts. 
       FIGS. 2A-2D  show a first exemplary embodiment of a water filter  200 . The broad white arrows indicate water flow. Water enters the water filter  200  via a filter inlet  210 . For example, the filter inlet  210  receives water from an external water source. Water flows from the filter inlet  210  through an activated carbon filter cartridge  230  disposed within a main housing  250 . The filter cartridge  230  contains a filter block  232 , for example of activated carbon, that is generally cylindrical in shape with a central channel  235  running axially through the filter block  232  at the inner core of the filter block  232 . Under the first embodiment  200 , the filter cartridge  230  may be similar to or identical to a conventional filter cartridge  130  ( FIG. 1 ). The water enters the central channel  235  from the filter inlet  210  and flows through the filter block  232  through an outer liner (not shown) to prevent carbon particulates from becoming part of the water supply. After passing through the filter cartridge  230  and outer liner, the filtered water pools in a reservoir  270  at the base of the filter  200 , and then flows through an egress channel  280  to a filter outlet  220 . Plastic end caps  240  are attached to the filter cartridge at either end of the carbon cylinder to direct water flow and provide structural support. One or more sealing O-rings  245  may be located at an inlet of the filter cartridge  230  to prevent leakage between the filter inlet  210  and the filter cartridge  230 . 
     The main housing  250  is generally a solid material, for example, plastic or metal. As shown by  FIG. 2D , the main housing  250  has an axial length D′ greater length than the length D of the main housing  150  ( FIG. 1 ) of a conventional water filter to reserve space for the reservoir  270 . The filter cartridge  230  only fills a top portion the housing  250 , leaving room at the bottom of the housing  250  for the reservoir  270 . The interior of the housing  250  may include a mechanism to keep the filter cartridge  230  from intruding into the reservoir  270 . For example, an annular shelf or other physical obstacle may be positioned at a top portion of the reservoir  270 . As another example, at least one end cap  240  may include a snap-in and/or compression feature. 
     The egress channel  280  may be formed along the surface of the housing  250  in a ridge that protrudes outward from the cylindrical housing  250 . The egress channel  280  has a channel inlet  281  in fluid communication with the reservoir  270  to draw filtered water from the reservoir  270  into the egress channel  280 . The egress channel  280  has a channel outlet  282  in fluid communication with the filter outlet  220  to provide a path for the filtered water to exit the water filter  200 . Alternatively the egress channel  280  may be perpendicular to the inlet  210 . In this case, the egress channel  280  is not formed along the surface of the housing  250  but perpendicular to it. 
     A window  260  at the base of the housing  250  is configured to allow light from a light source  290  ( FIG. 2D ) external to the housing  250  to enter the housing  250  into the reservoir  270 . The window  260  may be made of fused silica, glass, plastic, or another material transparent to UV light. For example, the window  260  preferably has UV transmission of greater than 90% over a wavelength range of 220 nm-400 nm. The window  260  may be any optical element configured to allow light from a light source external to the housing  250  to enter the housing  250  such as a lens, diffuser and/or lens/collimator. Alternatively, the light source  490  may be configured to provide light having a wavelength range of 260 nm to 400 nm, and the window  260  configured to provide at least 50% transmission over the wavelength range, for example, to cover grades of plastics which have a higher than normal UVC transmission (plastics have a lower transmission and narrower band than fused silica, however as more intense LEDs may be used with such grades of plastic). 
       FIG. 2D  shows an external light source  290 , for example, one or more light emitting diodes configured to produce ultra-violet (UV) radiation, indicated by arrows extending upward and outward from the external light source  290  through the window  260  and into the reservoir  270 . One or more surfaces of the reservoir  270  may include one or more reflective surfaces, formed of Teflon® or another UV reflective material, to allow the UV radiation to reach areas of the reservoir that may not be in a direct path from the light source  290  through the window  260 . 
     While the water is pooling in the reservoir  270 , it is then exposed to UV radiation provided by the light source  290  entering the reservoir via the window  260 . This radiation inactivates the microorganisms in the water of the reservoir  270  providing a higher level of microbial disinfection than provided by carbon filtering alone. It should be noted that a conventional filter  100  ( FIG. 1 ) does not provide a window to allow light within the main housing  150  ( FIG. 1 ). 
       FIGS. 3A-3C  show a second exemplary embodiment of a water filter  300 . The broad white arrows indicate water flow. Water enters the water filter  300  via a filter inlet  310 . For example, the filter inlet  310  receives water from an external water source. Water flows from the filter inlet  310  through an activated carbon filter cartridge  330  disposed within a main housing  350 . The filter cartridge  330  contains a filter block  332 , for example of activated carbon, that is generally cylindrical in shape with a central channel  335  running axially through the filter block  332  at the inner core of the filter block  332 . Under the second embodiment  300 , the filter cartridge  330  may be similar to or identical to a conventional filter cartridge  130  ( FIG. 1 ). 
     The second embodiment  300  may have a rotationally symmetric housing, which may allow for less expensive assembly methods like spin-welding. Further, a rotationally symmetric housing allows for uniform wall thickness, further simplifying the manufacturing process. Additionally, rotationally symmetric parts have a more uniform distribution of forces under pressure. 
     The water enters the central channel  335  from the filter inlet  310  and flows through the filter block  332  through an outer liner (not shown) to prevent carbon particulates from becoming part of the water supply. Plastic end caps  340 ,  341  are attached to the filter cartridge at either end of the carbon cylinder to direct water flow and provide structural support. One or more sealing O-rings  345  may be located at an inlet of the filter cartridge  330  to prevent leakage between the filter inlet  310  and the filter cartridge  330 . A top cap  340  may provide a water seal to the activated filter cartridge  330  and include a cylindrical portion that runs length of the activated filter cartridge  330  to prevent input water from mixing with (filtered) output water. A bottom cap  341  between the filter block  332  and the reservoir  370  may provide a water seal to the filter block  332  and provide mechanical support to the activated filter cartridge  330 . After passing through the carbon filter  330  and outer liner, the filtered water pools in a reservoir  370  at the base of the water filter  300 , and then flows through an egress channel between the exterior of the top cap  340  and the housing  350  to a filter outlet  320 . 
     As shown by  FIG. 3B , the filter  300  has a substantially circular cross section. While alternative embodiments may have a different cross-sectional shape, a cylindrical filter may be preferable for commercial reasons as most filters have this shape. 
     The main housing  350  is generally a solid material, for example, plastic or metal. As with the first embodiment, the main housing  350  has an axial length greater than the length D of the main housing  150  ( FIG. 1 ) of a conventional water filter to reserve space (length  375 ) within the housing  350  for the reservoir  370 . The activated filter cartridge  330  only fills a top portion the housing  350 , leaving room at the bottom of the housing  350  for the reservoir  370 . The interior of the housing  350  may include a cartridge mounting mechanism  345  to keep the filter cartridge  330  from intruding into the reservoir  370 . For example, the cartridge mounting mechanism  345  may include an annular shelf or other physical obstacle positioned at a top portion of the reservoir  370  and/or near the filter inlet  310  and filter outlet  320  end of the housing  350 . One or both of the plastic end caps  340 ,  341  may also include mounting features used to secure the cartridge  330  to the housing  350 , for example, by abutting, interlocking, and/or otherwise cooperating with the cartridge mounting mechanism  345 . For example, the cartridge mounting mechanism  345  may have a ratchet design having pawl/tongue in item  345  and teeth (not shown) in the end cap  341 . This is a preferred mechanism because no additional pieces are needed, however, other mechanisms are possible, for example, a snap in or twist-in mechanism (not shown). 
     Similarly to the first embodiment, under the second embodiment a window  360  at the base of the housing  350  is configured to allow light from a light source (not shown) external to the housing  350  to enter the housing  350  into the reservoir  370 . The window  360  may be made of glass, plastic, or another material transparent to UV light. For example, the window preferably has UV transmission of greater than 90% over a wavelength range of 225 nm-400 nm. While the water is pooling in the reservoir  370 , it is then exposed to UV radiation entering the reservoir via the window  360 . 
     It should be noted that the configuration of the water inlet and water outlet shown in the above embodiments may be implemented differently in order to be compatible with different host appliances. However, this does not generally materially affect the functionality of the embodiments described above. 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic drawing of a first embodiment of an enclosure  400  for a water filter, for example, the first embodiment water filter  200  or the second embodiment water filter  300 . The enclosure  400  has a main body  450  or housing with a first end  401  having an enclosure electrical connector (not shown), a fluid interlock  425 , and water attachments  410 ,  420 , specifically an enclosure water inlet  410  receiving unfiltered water and providing unfiltered water to a water filter  200 ,  300  and an enclosure water outlet  420  receiving filtered water from the water filter  200 ,  300  and providing it to an external water receptacle. A door  470  is provided at a second end  402  of the main body  450 . As shown by  FIG. 5 , when the door  470  is opened, the water filter  200 ,  300  may be inserted or removed from an enclosure cavity  430  within the enclosure  400 . The water filter  300  is inserted into the enclosure such that the filter water inlet  310  and filter water outlet  320  enter the enclosure cavity  430  first. The water filter  300  may have an alignment tab  380  to ensure the filter water inlet  310  and filter water outlet  320  are aligned with the enclosure water inlet  410  and enclosure water outlet  420  when the water filter  300  is inserted into the enclosure  400 . It should be noted that in alternative embodiments the water inlet  410  and water outlet  420  may be located in different locations, for example at opposite ends of the enclosure  400 . 
     As shown by  FIG. 6 , after the water filter  300  is inserted into the enclosure  400 , the enclosure door  470  may be shut, enclosing the water filter  300  within the enclosure  400 . Under the first embodiment of an enclosure  400 , the enclosure door  470  swings open with a pivot mechanism  475 , for example, a hinge. The pivot mechanism  475  may also provide an electrical pathway from the enclosure electrical connector (not shown) to electrical components located in the door  470 , for example, the enclosure light assembly  490 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
       FIGS. 8A-8B, 9  are the cutaway diagram of the enclosure  400  ( FIG. 8B  has the filter masked out for clarity). 
     As shown in  FIG. 8A , when the door  470  is closed with the filter  300  inside the enclosure  400 , the enclosure light assembly  490  is arranged next to the filter cartridge window  360  so that the enclosure light assembly emits light through the filter cartridge window  360  into the reservoir  370 . Under the first embodiment, the enclosure light assembly  490  includes one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) emitting UV light having wavelengths in a range of 225 nm-400 nm. The enclosure light assembly  490  may be cooled via a heat sink  492  and vents  493  ( FIG. 6 ) in the door  470  positioned near the heat sink  492 . 
     While other light sources may be used, a preferred embodiment uses low voltage direct current (DC) UV LEDs. The preferred wavelength for the LED is 265 nm which is the peak absorption wavelength of nucleic acid. Nucleic acid is found in all forms of DNA and RNA. The LED power may be adjusted according to a desired water flow rate to preferably deliver a nominal dosage of  16 mJ for the water flowing through the reservoir  370 . However the LED power can be adjusted depending on the input water quality or another desired objective. Regardless of the final configuration the LEDs preferably deliver a minimum of 1 mW/cm 2  to the window  360 . 
     When inserted into the enclosure, the filter water inlet  310  engages in fluid communication with the enclosure water inlet  410 , and the filter water outlet  320  engages in fluid communication with the enclosure water outlet  420 . For example, an interlock which can be actuated by the inlet  310  or a separate feature on the filter  300  opens a valve which allows water to flow into the inlet  310 . When the filter  300  is removed, the interlock is closed preventing water from flowing. O-rings or similar gasket features may be attached to the inlet  310  and the outlet  320  to provide a water tight seal between the filter  300  and the enclosure  400 . 
       FIG. 8A  shows the filter water inlet  310  and outlet  320  inserted into an enclosure annex  435  within the first end  401  of the enclosure body  450 . 
     While the first embodiment of the enclosure  400  opens with a pivoting door  470 , in alternative embodiments the enclosure  400  may be opened by other means to facilitate replacing the filter  300 , for example, but not limited to a screw threaded end portion or a friction fitted end portion. 
     While the first embodiment of the enclosure  400  is configured to entirely enclose the filter  300 , alternative embodiments may merely hold the filter in place without entirely enclosing the filter  300 , instead merely providing the enclosure water inlet  410  to engage with the filter water inlet  310 , the enclosure water outlet  420  to engage with the filter water outlet  320 , and a light source  490  providing light the through the filter cartridge window  360  into the reservoir  370 . 
     The enclosure  400  may attach to the host appliance in various ways, preferably with a simple attachment feature, for example using screws with screw holes in the enclosure  400  and mating thread in the appliance or mating snap features between the enclosure  400  and the appliance. The enclosure  400  may be located anywhere on the appliance; ideally it should be located where the end user can access the enclosure  400  with minimal effort to replace the filter  300 . The electrical connections can be made either via cable or male/female connector between the enclosure  400  and the host appliance. 
     As shown by  FIG. 10 , the enclosure  400  and filter  300  are part of a system  1000  for purifying water in an appliance. Water flows through the inlets  310 ,  410  into the filter cartridge  330  of the filter  300  within the enclosure  400 , eventually passing through the filter cartridge  330  to pool in the reservoir  370 . The light source  490  in the enclosure  400  is activated by a controller  1010  to emit UV radiation through the window  360  of the filter  300  into the reservoir  370 . The purified water then exits the reservoir  370  via the outlets  320 ,  420 . The controller  1010  may activate the light source  490  based upon an actuator, for example switch  1020 , and/or based upon a timer  1030 . Other actuating mechanisms are also possible, for example, the  1010  may monitor a flow sensor (not shown) and actuate the light source  490  based upon sensing water flowing into and/or out of the filter  300  or enclosure  400 , for example, based upon a predetermined volume of water flowing into and/or out of the filter  300  or enclosure  400 . 
     The controller  1010  may be a computer, an example of which is shown in the schematic diagram of  FIG. 11 . The system  500  contains a processor  502 , a storage device  504 , a memory  506  having software  508  stored therein that defines the abovementioned functionality, input and output (I/O) devices  510  (or peripherals), and a local bus, or local interface  512  allowing for communication within the system  500 . The local interface  512  can be, for example but not limited to, one or more buses or other wired or wireless connections, as is known in the art. The local interface  512  may have additional elements, which are omitted for simplicity, such as controllers, buffers (caches), drivers, repeaters, and receivers, to enable communications. Further, the local interface  512  may include address, control, and/or data connections to enable appropriate communications among the aforementioned components. 
     The processor  502  is a hardware device for executing software, particularly that stored in the memory  506 . The processor  502  can be any custom made or commercially available single core or multi-core processor, a central processing unit (CPU), an auxiliary processor among several processors associated with the present system  500 , a semiconductor based microprocessor (in the form of a microchip or chip set), a macroprocessor, or generally any device for executing software instructions. 
     The memory  506  can include any one or combination of volatile memory elements (e.g., random access memory (RAM, such as DRAM, SRAM, SDRAM, etc.)) and nonvolatile memory elements (e.g., ROM, hard drive, tape, CDROM, etc.). Moreover, the memory  506  may incorporate electronic, magnetic, optical, and/or other types of storage media. Note that the memory  506  can have a distributed architecture, where various components are situated remotely from one another, but can be accessed by the processor  502 . 
     The software  508  defines functionality performed by the system  500 , in accordance with the present invention. The software  508  in the memory  506  may include one or more separate programs, each of which contains an ordered listing of executable instructions for implementing logical functions of the system  500 , as described below. The memory  506  may contain an operating system (O/S)  520 . The operating system essentially controls the execution of programs within the system  500  and provides scheduling, input-output control, file and data management, memory management, and communication control and related services. 
     The I/O devices  510  may include input devices, for example but not limited to, a keyboard, mouse, scanner, microphone, etc. Furthermore, the I/O devices  510  may also include output devices, for example but not limited to, a printer, display, etc. Finally, the I/O devices  510  may further include devices that communicate via both inputs and outputs, for instance but not limited to, a modulator/demodulator (modem; for accessing another device, system, or network), a radio frequency (RF) or other transceiver, a telephonic interface, a bridge, a router, or other device. 
     When the system  500  is in operation, the processor  502  is configured to execute the software  508  stored within the memory  506 , to communicate data to and from the memory  506 , and to generally control operations of the system  500  pursuant to the software  508 , as explained above. 
     When the functionality of the system  500  is in operation, the processor  502  is configured to execute the software  508  stored within the memory  506 , to communicate data to and from the memory  506 , and to generally control operations of the system  500  pursuant to the software  508 . The operating system  520  is read by the processor  502 , perhaps buffered within the processor  502 , and then executed. 
     When the system  500  is implemented in software  508 , it should be noted that instructions for implementing the system  500  can be stored on any computer-readable medium for use by or in connection with any computer-related device, system, or method. Such a computer-readable medium may, in some embodiments, correspond to either or both the memory  506  or the storage device  504 . In the context of this document, a computer-readable medium is an electronic, magnetic, optical, or other physical device or means that can contain or store a computer program for use by or in connection with a computer-related device, system, or method. Instructions for implementing the system can be embodied in any computer-readable medium for use by or in connection with the processor or other such instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. Although the processor  502  has been mentioned by way of example, such instruction execution system, apparatus, or device may, in some embodiments, be any computer-based system, processor-containing system, or other system that can fetch the instructions from the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device and execute the instructions. In the context of this document, a “computer-readable medium” can be any means that can store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or in connection with the processor or other such instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. 
     Such a computer-readable medium can be, for example but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, device, or propagation medium. More specific examples (a nonexhaustive list) of the computer-readable medium would include the following: an electrical connection (electronic) having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette (magnetic), a random access memory (RAM) (electronic), a read-only memory (ROM) (electronic), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM, EEPROM, or Flash memory) (electronic), an optical fiber (optical), and a portable compact disc read-only memory (CDROM) (optical). Note that the computer-readable medium could even be paper or another suitable medium upon which the program is printed, as the program can be electronically captured, via for instance optical scanning of the paper or other medium, then compiled, interpreted or otherwise processed in a suitable manner if necessary, and then stored in a computer memory. 
     In an alternative embodiment, where the system  500  is implemented in hardware, the system  500  can be implemented with any or a combination of the following technologies, which are each well known in the art: a discrete logic circuit(s) having logic gates for implementing logic functions upon data signals, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) having appropriate combinational logic gates, a programmable gate array(s) (PGA), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), etc. 
       FIG. 12  is a flowchart  1200  illustrating an example of an exemplary method for forming a water filtering system. It should be noted that any process descriptions or blocks in flowcharts should be understood as representing modules, segments, portions of code, or steps that include one or more instructions for implementing specific logical functions in the process, and alternative implementations are included within the scope of the present invention in which functions may be executed out of order from that shown or discussed, including substantially concurrently or in reverse order, depending on the functionality involved, as would be understood by those reasonably skilled in the art of the present invention. 
     A water filter assembly  300  is formed having a housing  350  with a filter water inlet  310 , a filter water outlet  320 , a filter portion  330  within the housing, a reservoir portion  370  apart from the filter portion within the housing, and a window  360  in the housing configured to convey UV light from a light source  490  outside the housing into the reservoir, as shown by block  1210 . A first fluid channel is formed configured to communicate a fluid from the filter fluid inlet to filter fluid outlet through the filter portion and the reservoir portion, as shown by block  1220 . An enclosure  400  configured to at least partially enclose the water filter assembly, having an enclosure housing  450 , an enclosure water inlet  410 , an enclosure water outlet  420 , and a light source  490 , as shown by block  1230 . 
     The enclosure  400  is configured to removably receive the water filter assembly in a cavity  430  within the enclosure  400  in an arrangement with the light source  490  adjacent to the window  360  admitting light from the light source  490  into the reservoir portion  370 , as shown by block  1240 . A second fluid channel is formed between the filter fluid inlet  310  and the enclosure fluid inlet  410 , as shown by block  1250 . A third fluid channel is formed between the filter fluid outlet  320  and the enclosure fluid outlet  420 , as shown by block  1260 . 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.