Patent Publication Number: US-2009230050-A1

Title: Filter Assembly Sump Liner

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Many generic filtration applications involve using replaceable filters or filter cartridges which are mounted in a filter assembly. The configuration of the filter assembly and/or or the application, such as when the filter assembly is incorporated in an appliance, often make replacing the filter cartridge a difficult and/or disorderly task. The removal of the filter cartridge sometimes results in spilling filtrate or even filter media. 
     SUMMARY 
     Some embodiments of the disclosure provide a sump liner for use with a fluid filter assembly in an appliance. The sump liner includes an open end configured to be coupled to the housing and a closed end opposite from the open end. The sump liner includes a body between the open end and the closed end with the body including at least one corrugated wall. The sump liner includes a cartridge-receiving cavity formed by the body and the closed end. The cartridge-receiving cavity is configured to at least partially cover a filter cartridge when the filter cartridge is inserted into and removed from the sump. The sump liner substantially prevents fluid from the filter cartridge from contacting the sump. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a fluid filter assembly including a sump liner according to one embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of a filter cartridge for use with the fluid filter assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the filter cartridge of  FIG. 2  taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the sump liner included in the fluid filter assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
     Before any embodiments of the disclosure are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled” and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further, “connected” and “coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings. Unless otherwise apparent, or stated, directional references, such as “inner,” “outer,” “upper,” “lower,” etc., or variations thereof, are intended to be relative to the parts described or orientation of a particular embodiment of the disclosure as shown in the first view of that embodiment. 
     The following discussion is presented to enable a person skilled in the art to make and use embodiments of the disclosure. Various modifications to the illustrated embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles herein can be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from embodiments of the disclosure. Thus, embodiments of the disclosure are not intended to be limited to embodiments shown. but are to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein. The following detailed description is to be read with reference to the figures, in which like elements in different figures have like reference numerals. The figures, which are not necessarily to scale, depict selected embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of embodiments of the disclosure. Skilled artisans will recognize the examples provided herein have many useful alternatives and fall within the scope of embodiments of the disclosure. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a filter assembly  10  according to one embodiment of the disclosure, as can be generally used in refrigerators or similar kitchen appliances. In some embodiments, filter assembly  10  generally includes a filter housing  12 , a filter cartridge  14 , an O-ring gasket  16 , a sump liner  18 , and a filter cup or sump  20 . The filter assembly  10  shown in  FIG. 1  is only for purposes of illustrating various features of embodiments of the disclosure, in that other filter assemblies, such as filter assemblies having alternate configurations or components, can include features comprising an embodiment encompassed by the disclosure. Moreover, a filter assembly according to the disclosure, such as filter assembly  10 , can be utilized in applications other than those involving refrigerators or kitchen appliances generally. 
     Filter housing  12  includes a substantially cylindrical body  22  defined between an attachment portion  24  and a receiving portion  26 . Although not specifically shown in  FIG. 1 , attachment portion  24  is adapted or configured to facilitate a substantially secure, non-permanent attachment for filter housing  12  in its intended location. For example, attachment portion  24  may include a threaded section, flange or other suitable features for coupling filter housing  12  to a refrigerator or other appliance. In other embodiments, filter housing  12  can include other mechanisms either associated with attachment portion  24  or otherwise that facilitate the positioning of filter housing  12  in its intended location. Filter housing  12  can also be integral to a refrigerator or any other device with which filter assembly  10  is to be installed. Filter housing  12  is also configured to mate with cup  20 , which can be accomplished through a suitable attachment mechanism, such as corresponding threading on the outer surface of receiving portion  26  and the inner surface of sump  20 . 
     Receiving portion  26  of filter housing  12  includes an opening  28  which at least partially defines an interior space  30  configured to receive other components of filter assembly  10 . For example, components received by filter housing  12  include filter cartridge  14 , ring gasket  16 , sump liner  18 , and sump  20 . Other components can also be included within filter assembly  10  and received by filter housing  12 . In some embodiments, filter housing  12  can be configured for connecting with the fluid inlet and outlet lines from an appliance, while opening  28  and interior space  30  provide for fluid communication between components of filter assembly  10  and the respective inlet and outlet fluid lines. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , filter cartridge  14  of filter assembly  10  can include a first filter cap  32 , a filter media  34 , and a second filter cap  36 . Filter media  34  can be substantially cylindrical having a central longitudinal axis  38  with a substantially cylindrical conduit  40  that is aligned with axis  38 . The disclosure is not limited to any particular filter media  34  shape, and filter media  34  can comprise other shapes than shown in this embodiment. Additionally, other embodiments can include filter medium and conduits which are not axially aligned. 
     First filter cap  32  and second filter cap  36  can each generally include a conduit extension  42  in axial alignment with axis  38  and dimensioned to be inserted within cylindrical conduit  40 . Second filter cap  36  further includes a neck portion  44  extending from filter cartridge  14  along axis  38  in substantially the opposite direction as extension  42  of second filter cap  36 . Neck portion  44  and extension  42  of second filter cap  36  cooperate to form a passage  46  which provides for fluid communication with conduit  40  in filter media  34  and extension  42  of first filter cap  32 . 
     Neck portion  44  of second filter cap  36  includes an outside surface  48  and a stepped inside surface  50 , forming portions of passage  46  that differ in diameter. Outside surface  48  includes an annular recessed groove  52  configured to seat an O-ring gasket  54  therein. As shown in  FIG. 2 , first filter cap  32  and second filter cap  36  can include a plurality of apertures  56  formed in a generally concentric arrangement with respect to axis  38  in filter caps  32  and  36 . 
     In some embodiments, Filter assembly  10  is assembled by filter cartridge  14  being inserted in receiving portion  26 . Fluid provided to interior space  30  through a connection between a fluid inlet line (not shown) and filter housing  12  is introduced to filter media  34  through apertures  56 . Similarly, in some embodiments, neck portion  44  can be connected for fluid communication within interior space  30  with a fluid outlet line (not shown). In such embodiments, filtered fluid can pass through filter media  34  and out of fluid assembly  10  through conduit  40  and passage  46  in neck portion  44 . However, other embodiments can include an alternative fluid path. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , sump liner  18  in some embodiments generally includes an open end  58  and a closed end  60 . In some embodiments, closed end  60  of sump liner  18  generally corresponds with the overall shape of filter cup  20 , though sump liner  18  is not limited to conforming with any particular shape. In other embodiments, sump liner  18  can be shaped other than as shown herein. In some embodiments, sump liner  18  is formed from or into a corrugated material. As shown in  FIG. 4 , sump liner  18 , as can be seen particularly at open end  58 , generally defines a star-like patterned shape, defining inner portions  62  and outer portions. The corrugated configuration of sump liner  18  can define alternating inner and outer channels (e.g., inner and outer portions  62  and  64 , respectively) and/or alternating grooves and ridges in the walls of sump liner  18 . The alternating inner and outer channels or grooves and ridges can be substantially parallel to one another. The sump liner  18  can be formed of, or into, a non-corrugated structure, a pleated structure, or a film. 
     Inner portions  62  of sump liner  18  generally correspond to the folded sections of the corrugated material that are adjacent filter cartridge  14  when sump liner  18  is mounted in the assembled filter assembly  10 . Outer portions  64  of sump liner  18  generally correspond to the folded sections of the corrugated material that are adjacent the inner wall (not shown) of sump  20  upon sump liner  18  being mounted in the assembled filter assembly  10 . 
     In some embodiments, sump liner  18  is mounted in filter assembly  10  by coupling sump liner  18  with the filter cartridge  14 . Sump liner  18  can form a protective sheath around part or all of filter cartridge  14 . Sump liner  18  can be positioned to abut second filter cap  36 . In some embodiments, ring gasket  16  can be mounted on sump liner  18  or otherwise cooperate to secure open end  58  of sump liner  18  over Filter cartridge  14 . In some embodiments, sump liner  18  can be of a substantially larger longitudinal length than filter cartridge  14 , so as to leave extra or slack corrugated material which can then be folded over or otherwise manipulated to substantially surround ring gasket  16 . Thus, sump liner  18 , and/or the portion of slack material associated with open end  58 , can serve additional functions within filter assembly  10 , such as affecting the rate of fluid flow therein, providing further filtration aspects or enhancing sealing characteristics and the integrity of fluid flow through filter assembly  10 , and filter cartridge  14  and sump  20  in particular. 
     In other embodiments, sump liner  18  can be mounted to an inner portion (not shown) of filter housing  12 , which is further configured and operable to support filter cartridge  14  and provide for the coupling of fluid inlet and outlet lines with filter cartridge  14 . Ring gasket  16  can be mounted in close proximity to open end  58  of sump liner  18  for sealing fluid from passing from the fluid inlet and outlet lines to the sump  20 , among other things. 
     In yet other embodiments, sump liner  18  is dimensioned and configured so that inner portions  62  of sump liner  18  generally provide a tight fit or otherwise closely contact filter cartridge  14  when sump liner  18  is mounted within filter assembly  10 . Similarly, sump liner  18  can be dimensioned and configured so that outer portions  64  generally provide a tight fit or closely conform with the inner wall (not shown) of sump  20  when the sump liner  18  is mounted within filter assembly  10 . 
     Sump liner  18  can be formed of a pliant or compressible material, or can otherwise be slightly or partially deformable, particularly when mounted in filter assembly  10 . Sump liner  18  can be constructed of a suitable material or combination of materials, which can be corrugated or non-corrugated, porous or non-porous, such as a paper, paperboard or plastics, such as polyethylene or polypropylene, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, sump liner  18  can be fabricated to be partially or substantially fluid impermeable. In some embodiments, sump liner  18  can be constructed of a disposable material. 
     Sump liner  18  can be used to help prevent fluid and/or filter media from being spilled out of the filter cartridge  14  when the filter cartridge  14  is being removed from the filter assembly  10 . Sump liner  18  and filter cartridge  14  can be removed from filter assembly  10  together, so that sump liner  18  can contain any fluid and/or filter media that spills from the filter cartridge  14 . Thus, sump liner  18  and filter cartridge  14  can be disposed of upon opening filter assembly  10  to replace filter cartridge  14 , which can then be provided with a new filter cartridge  14  and sump liner  18 . 
     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that while the disclosure has been described above in connection with particular embodiments and examples, the disclosure is not necessarily so limited, and that numerous other embodiments, examples, uses, modifications and departures from the embodiments, examples and uses are intended to be encompassed by the claims attached hereto. The entire disclosure of each patent and publication cited herein is incorporated by reference, as if each such patent or publication were individually incorporated by reference herein. 
     Various features and advantages of the disclosure are set forth in the following claims.