Abstract:
A shower filter assembly, having a thin or low-profile design, including a recessed inlet, which leads into an internal chamber having a filter element mounted therein to deflect water flowing into the internal chamber substantially evenly through a filter media held within the filter element. Magnets are provided in the compact shower filter to act on the water flowing therethrough, so as to breakdown carbonates therein and prevent the formation of line and scale deposits.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to shower filters, and, more particularly, to an improved, compact shower filter, in which magnetic fields are applied to shower water flowing through the shower filter. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Shower filters for use in conjunction with showerheads are known. These filters are normally inserted into a water line, between the showerhead and the shower arm. However, because of the size of the shower filter added to the showerhead, the showerhead is moved or offset so that it extends further into a shower area where, in some cases, it interferes with a person taking a shower. Because of problems with the size and some installations of known shower filters, as well as the high cost of manufacturing, there exists the need in the art for a less-cumbersome, easy-to-install, low-cost, compact shower filter device, which device also applies magnetic fields to shower water to improve the performance of the device, and to minimize or prevent scaling. 
     Known shower filter assemblies are set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,742 to Farley, U.S. Pat. No. 5,300,224 to Farley, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,152,464 to Farley. While the foregoing prior art devices provide improved filtration of hot water passing through them, they do not contain means for applying magnetic fields to shower water, and are different in construction and operation from the shower filter of the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved shower filter assembly. It is a particular object of the present invention to provide an improved compact shower filter assembly. It is a still more particular object of the present invention to provide an improved compact shower filter assembly that takes up a minimum amount of space, while providing improved results. It is a further particular object of the present invention to provide an improved compact shower filter that applies magnetic fields to shower water passing therethrough, to reduce the effect of scaling created by carbonates in the shower water. And, it is yet another particular object of the present invention to provide an improved compact shower filter having ultra-high strength ring magnets therein to breakdown the bonds of carbonates in shower water. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a shower filter assembly having a compact design because of the use of an internal filter assembly and a recessed inlet. The shower filter assembly includes an internal chamber containing a specifically sized and dimensioned filter element for filtering out chlorine and other unwanted materials in the shower water, and for directing the flow of shower water through the filter and filter housing. The shower filter assembly is made as thin as possible to take up a minimum amount of space, and is provided with means for applying magnetic fields to shower water to provide improved performance and minimize scaling. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The objects and features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used throughout the several views, and, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the shower filter assembly of the present invention, attached at the end of a shower arm, with a showerhead shown in broken line, attached to an outlet of the filter assembly; 
     FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along line  2 — 2  of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; and 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a removable filter element held within an interior chamber formed in the shower filter assembly. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the generic principles of the present invention have been defined herein specifically to provide for an improved compact shower filter assembly, generally indicated by the numeral  10 . 
     Turning now to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 show the compact shower filter assembly  10  of the present invention, fixed to the end of a shower arm or water pipe  12 . For purposes of illustration only, a showerhead  14  is shown in broken line, attached to an outlet  16  of the shower filter assembly  10 . It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the assembly  10  may be any desired shape and fixed to the end of the shower arm  12 , or the like, in any conventional manner. The improved assembly  10  includes an inlet  18  that is preferably formed integrally in a top wall  33  of a top or upper hollow housing portion  20 . The inlet  18  is recessed in an internally extending annular portion  22  having a threaded passage formed therein. The threads within the internally extending or recessed portion  22  may be secured to a threaded end of the shower arm  12 . A sealing element  24  is held in the internally extending annular portion  22 , between the threaded end of the shower arm  12 , against a means for applying or producing magnetic fields  26 , and a reduced diameter shoulder  28  formed at or adjacent an inner end of the recessed annular portion  22 . 
     The assembly  10  may be any desired shape, but is preferably cylindrical, with mating top and bottom hollow housing portions  20  and  30 . An internal chamber  32  is formed between the mating hollow housing portions  20 ,  30 . Upper and lower portions  20  and  30  may be fabricated in any desired manner, using any acceptable material, such as by molding a plastic material. 
     The upper portion  20  of assembly  10  includes the top wall  33 , which is preferably flat, and has the inlet  18  and the recessed annular portion  22  formed integrally therewith. If desired, to guide insertion of the assembly  10  into a pipe  12 , the inlet  18  may have an enlarged opening formed in the top wall  33 , leading to the recessed annular portion  22 . 
     The bottom or lower hollow housing portion  30  includes an annular outer end  34  formed integrally with a bottom wall  36 . The annular outer end  34  includes internal threads  38 , which cooperate with external threads  40  formed on an annular end  42  formed integrally with the top wall  33  of upper hollow housing portion  20 . The outlet  16  is also formed integrally with, and substantially in the center of the exterior surface of the bottom wall  36  of lower portion  30 , and extends outwardly or away, from the bottom wall  36 . 
     As shown in FIG. 2, if needed, a second means for applying a magnetic field  44  is held in the internal chamber  32 , below a filter element  46 , above the outlet  16 . The means for applying magnetic fields  26 ,  44  to shower water flowing through the filter device  10  are preferably ultra-high strength magnets. For example, in one embodiment of the invention the magnets  26 ,  44  are formed as rare earth (neodymium) ring magnets of different size. That is, the ring magnet  26  held in the recessed annular portion  22  is smaller than the ring magnet  44  held below the filter element  46 , adjacent the outlet  16 . However, each of the ring magnets  26 ,  44  are preferably formed so as to have a field strength of approximately 3,000 Gauss. 
     The use of at least one of the ring magnets  26 ,  44  of the present invention reduces the effect of scaling created by calcium and magnesium carbonates (lime) in so-called “hard water”. Additionally, if both of the magnets  26 ,  44  are used, they further help to reduce chlorine exposure from shower water and provide therapeutic benefits. 
     Water is often referred to as “Nature&#39;s solvent” and is one of the best solvents known to man. Water tends to cluster around non-water particles, forming complexes that produce the mineral content in water. Some of the most common minerals in water are the carbonates, such as calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate, which are similar to limestone found in rock formations, such as in hills or mountains. The amount of carbonates present in water determines the “hardness” of the water. 
     Hard water used in showers evaporates leaving carbonates that become concentrated crystals which form lime and scale deposits on shower walls and in showerheads. These deposits are very difficult to remove, can clog the showerhead nozzles, and are unsightly. This build up of lime and scale deposits occurs slowly, but nonetheless is noticeable over time. Therefore, the prevention of such deposits saves energy, money and time spent in cleaning and maintaining shower areas. 
     Calcium and magnesium carbonates can be chemically removed by selective ion exchange. However, this process is relatively expensive and greatly increases the sodium content in the shower water so treated, thus crating a possible health risk. 
     The reduction or elimination of scaling from shower water containing carbonates can be achieved a number of other ways, including mechanical whirling, sonic disturbance, electric frequencies and magnetic disturbances. They all reduce the formation of hard lime scale to some extent. However, after extensive testing, it has been found that the use of magnetic fields as disclosed in the present invention are the most practical and efficient application for use in a shower filter. 
     This is because upon evaporation, the calcium and magnesium carbonates form a crystalline carbonate structure based on individual molecular bonding called liming or scaling. This liming or scaling is very hard and resilient to normal cleaning abrasives. When left unchecked, the carbonates accumulate increasing the scaling deposits. Magnetic fields disrupt the bonding of the carbonate molecules as they dehydrate, so that an imperfect structure is formed. That is, the crystals formed by carbonate molecules subjected to a magnetic field, are structurally weaker, forming softer scale deposits, or in many cases entirely preventing the formation of scale deposits. Furthermore, the use of multiple magnetic polar fields, such as with one or multiple ring magnets  26 ,  44 , as disclosed in the present invention, increases the disruption of the crystalline structure, thereby providing enhanced results. 
     Although two magnets are not always required, by placing at least one magnet, such as the magnet  26  in the inlet  18 , and, if needed, depending on the hardness of the water, the magnet  44  at the outlet  16  of the shower filter  10 , shower water passes through the inside and then the outside polar fields of each of these ring magnets. This, in effect, doubles polar field exposure of hard shower water from each magnet. Therefore, with the shower filter  10  of the present invention, having two magnets therein, shower water is exposed to eight (8) polar fields from just two ring magnets. This design dramatically increases the benefits resulting from the magnetic field exposure. 
     The upper and lower halves or portions  20 ,  30  are mated or secured together by the internal and external threads  38 ,  40  formed on the mating annular end portions  34 ,  42 . When held together, as best shown in FIG. 2, the top and bottom mating halves  20 ,  30  hold the filter element  46  in the internal chamber  32 . Sealing elements  48 , such as O-ring seals, are held in annular grooves  50  formed in annular supporting portions or walls  52  formed within each of the top and bottom halves  20 ,  30 . The sealing elements  48  cooperate with flat ends or walls  54 ,  56  of an annular housing portion  58  formed in the filter element  46 , to seal the filter element in the internal chamber  32 . 
     With the filter element  46  sealed in internal chamber  32 , an upper surface of the bottom wall  56  in a central depression or open area of the filter element cooperates with the water entering inlet  18 , through an opening in shoulder  28 , to direct, deflect or turn the flow of water from the inlet in the direction of the arrows  60 . That is, the water is turned by the upper surface of the bottom wall  56  into an annular passage  62  formed between an inner surface of the recessed annular housing portion  22  and an inner surface or wall  64  formed in the central depression or open area of annular body  58 . The water is then deflected by curved inner walls  66  of the top surface  33  into a plurality of inlet openings  68  (see FIG. 3) formed in top surface  54  of the annular body  58 . The openings  68  include a screen or wire mesh therein to hold a filter media  70  in annular body  58 . This filter media is preferably a chlorine removing media, such as Chlorgon™, manufactured by Sprite Industries of Corona California, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,914,043, issued Jun. 22, 1999. Water passes through the filter media  70  and out a plurality of exit openings  72  formed in the lower wall  56  of the annular body  58  of filter element  46 . The exit openings  72  also having a wire mesh or screen held therein to keep the filter media  70  within the annular body  58 . After leaving the exit openings  72  the water is deflected by an inner surface of lower wall  36  and a plurality of dividing walls or structural members  74 , held or formed on this inner surface. This brings or directs the water past the second magnet  44 , back to the centerline of the shower filter  10 , and out the outlet  16 . The dividing walls  74  also provide further strength to the lower wall  36  and support the second magnet  44  in position, centrally, in the shower filter, against the lower wall  56  of the filter element  46 . 
     It, therefore, can be seen, that when the top and bottom halves  20 ,  30  are assembled to form the unit  10 , as by being screwed together, the filter element  46  is sealingly held within the internal chamber  32  formed therebetween. The filter element  46  cooperates with the recessed annular portion  22 , the inner wall  64  of the annular body  58 , and the curved inner walls  66  of top surface  33  of upper housing  20  to direct water flow through inlet openings  68  into filter media  70  held in the annular body  58 . The filter element  46  also directs the flow of water past both sides of both magnets  26 ,  44 , and may be easily changed by unscrewing the top and bottom halves  20 ,  30 , removing the filter, and refilling the filter with new filter media, or replacing the entire filter. The filter media  70  held within the filter element  46  may be any desired filter media, but is preferably Chlorgon™, as described above, which removes chlorine and other unwanted materials from hot shower water. This filter media, together with the ultra-strong magnets  26 ,  44 , provides increased filtering performance, while, at the same time, decreasing or preventing the build up of unwanted lime deposits or scales. 
     All of the elements of shower filter assembly of the present invention may be fabricated in any desired manner, using any acceptable material, such as by molding plastic materials to form the various elements of the filter assembly, and forming the ring magnets as described above. Each of the elements are sized and dimensioned so that it is of minimum size, but cooperate to provide optimum performance. 
     Accordingly, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the shower filter assembly of the present invention provides considerable advantages in ease and flexibility of manufacture, installation and use. Additionally, the shower filter assembly of the present invention takes up substantially less space than many known shower filters, and contains means for applying magnetic fields to water passing therethrough so as to maintain a cleaner shower area. 
     Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications of the just-described preferred embodiments can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.