Abstract:
An improved filter device for the removal of contaminants from water and method of using same. Disclosed is a filter assembly for a spray attachment that is easily replaced and either concealed or partially concealed.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application is based on and claims priority to U.S. Patent Provisional Application Serial No. 60/249,033, filed Dec. 7, 2000, and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/766,031, filed Jan. 19, 2001, and of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/736,637, filed Dec. 14, 2000, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/431,942 filed Oct. 1, 1999, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein to the extent permitted by law. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to fluid treatment. In particular, the present invention relates to water filtration devices for sink spray attachments.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Tap water contains many contaminants. If not removed from the water, these contaminants may present health risks, may damage plumbing and personal property, and may adversely affect the taste of water. The principal contaminants naturally occurring in water are iron, sulfur, manganese, lead, and cryptosporidium cysts. Many man-made contaminants are also now found in tap water. These man-made contaminants may be introduced into the water supply as part of or as by-products of herbicides, pesticides, fertilizers and the like placed on and into the ground. These contaminants are believed to be carcinogenic and may present serious long term health risks to users of this contaminated water.  
           [0004]    Traditionally, water filters have been placed under the main faucet spout, thereby filtering the water after it has traveled through the main faucet. Water filters of the prior art have been attached to sink faucets by various mechanisms. Typically, filters are mounted onto the threads of a faucet diverter section or have hoses attached thereto. The filter cartridge protrudes sideways or upwards from the diverter section into the upper work area of the sink or are placed behind the faucet. The placement of the filter in these positions is cumbersome for a user cleaning dishes or performing routine hygienic functions. Further, the placement of the filter outward and upward from the faucet is in plain view and unsightly to the user. Providing filtered water outside of the sink area is also difficult to accomplish with filters that are placed on the main faucet. Therefore, a concealed or partially concealed water filter for a spray attachment is desirable to provide filtered water outside of the sink area.  
           [0005]    Several water filters of the prior art have been placed in a faucet spray wand assembly. However, the filters of the prior art are placed in the main faucet spout and require cumbersome dismantling of the spray wand to replace the used cartridge.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    The foregoing problems are solved and a technical advance is achieved by the present invention. Disclosed is a filter assembly for a spray attachment that is easily replaceable. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a standard spray attachment of the prior art.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a spray head utilized in the present invention.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the filter assembly of the present invention.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3B is a top planar view of an end cap for the filter assembly of the present invention showing radial ribs that direct the water flow.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the filter assembly of the present invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a spray head of the present invention.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the filter assembly of the present invention.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a two handle faucet assembly with a spray attachment utilizing a filter assembly of the present invention.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 8A is a perspective view of a single handle faucet assembly with a spray attachment utilizing another embodiment of the filter assembly of the present invention.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 8B an enlarged cross-sectional view of an adapter tee of the present invention.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a single handle faucet assembly without a spray attachment utilizing another embodiment of the filter assembly of the present invention.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view of a spray attachment and filter assembly of the present invention.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 11A is a cross-sectional view of a spray attachment and filter assembly of the present invention.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 11B is a partial cross-sectional view of a typical installation of the spray attachment of FIG. 11A.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 11C is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a fitting utilized in the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0022]    [0022]FIG. 1 depicts a spray attachment  10  as is generally known in the art. The spray attachment  10  is standard for most kitchen sinks. The spray attachment  10  comprises a spray head  12  and a spray hose assembly  14 . A spray handle  16  extending from a body  20  of the spray head  12  controls the release of water out of a nozzle  18 . The spray body  20  also houses other elements necessary for holding and dispensing water from the spray head  12  as are well known in the art including but not limited to valves, channels, seals, and flow restrictors. The body  20  of the spray head  12  detachably attaches to the spray hose assembly  14 . The body  20  comprises an opening  21  which receives a spray hose coupling  24  of the spray hose assembly  14 . In one embodiment, a female end  22  of the body  20  receives a male end  26  of the spray hose coupling  24  of the spray hose assembly  14 . The spray hose coupling  24  detachably attaches the spray head  12  to a spray hose  30  of the spray hose assembly  14  with threads or other coupling mechanisms as are generally known in the art. In one embodiment, the female end  22  having ¼ inch NSP internal threads receives the male end  26  having ¼ inch NSP external threads.  
         [0023]    The spray hose  30  provides a water supply that is dispensed through the nozzle  18  of the spray head  12 . The spray hose assembly  14  has a seal  28  that prevents water from leaking from the spray hose  30  when the male end  26  of the spray hose assembly  14  is detachably attached to the female end  22  of the spray head  12 . The spray attachment  10  may remain in a resting position in a spray holder  32  affixed to a sink  34  (FIG. 7) or may be extended out of the spray holder  32  and hand-held in an extended position for use in areas outside of the sink  34 .  
         [0024]    As depicted in FIG. 2, it is known that the spray head  12  may dispense water in a spray or stream pattern. A selector valve  36  on the spray head  12  has a stream position  38 , an off position  39 , and a spray position  40  which controls the pattern for dispensing water. FIG. 2 depicts the selector valve  36  as a switch which slides into the stream position  38  when a user pushes the selector valve up the spray body  20  and into the spray position  40  when a user pushes the valve down the spray body  20 . One skilled in the art would recognize that the stream, off, and spray positions  38 ,  39 , and  40 , respectively, may be interchanged, and further may be controlled by other selector mechanisms as are generally known in the art. When the selector valve  36  is in the stream position  38 , water dispenses through a stream spout  42  on the spray body  20 . When the selector valve  36  is in the spray position  40 , water dispenses through a spray spout  44  of the spray body  20 . In one embodiment, the water dispensed from the stream spout  42  is directed downwardly toward the sink  34  and the water dispensed from the spray spout  44  is directed away from the sink  34 . Therefore, typically, the spray position  40  may be used when the spray attachment  10  is in the extended position so as to direct the spray spout  44  at a desired object. The spray hose assembly  14  may detachably attach to the spray head  12  in the manner described above.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIGS. 3A and 4 depict a filter assembly  50  for filtering water supplied to the spray attachment  10 . The filter assembly  50  reduces the amount of particles and other contaminants in the water supply and improves the taste and odor of the water supply. The filter assembly  50  includes a housing  52  having an inlet  54  and an outlet  56  to allow water to flow through the housing  52 . The housing  52  is preferably constructed or injection molded of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS). Those skilled in the art, however, will appreciate that any suitable temperature resistant thermoplastic material or other suitable material may be utilized for the housing  20 . In both FIGS. 3A and 4, the inlet  54  of the filter assembly  50  mates with the spray hose coupling  24  of the spray hose assembly  14  (FIG. 1) and the outlet  56  mates with the opening  21  of the spray head  12  (FIG. 1) to provide filtered water to the spray head  12 . One skilled in the art would recognize that any filter assembly  50  may be employed in the present invention as long as the inlet  54  and the outlet  56  are configured to mate with spray hose coupling  24  and the opening  21 , respectively. In one embodiment of the present invention, the inlet  54  has internal threads and the outlet  56  has external threads which correspond with the male end  26  and female end  22  threads, respectively. In one embodiment, the inlet  54 , the outlet  56 ,  10  the male end  26  and the female end  22  all have ¼ inch NSP threads. The configuration of the inlet  54 , the outlet  56 , the opening  21 , and the spray hose coupling  24  may be reversed so that the inlet  54  has external threads to engage a female end on the spray hose assembly  14  and the outlet  56  has internal threads to engage a male end in the opening  21 .  
         [0026]    In one embodiment, depicted in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the filter assembly  50  may further comprise a filter cartridge  58 , a channel  59 , and an end cap  60 . As depicted in FIG. 3B, radial ribs  66  on the end cap  60  fix the position of the filter cartridge  58  in the housing  52 . The end cap  60  seals the filter assembly  50  at the inlet  54  to prevent flow of the filtered water back into the spray hose  30 . The water flows around the radial ribs  66  into the channel  59 . The channel  59  fluidly communicates with the inlet  54  and provides a path for the water supply to reach the filter cartridge  58 . The filter cartridge  58  comprises a media  62  and an axial void  64  running down the center of the housing  52 . The media  62  may include but is not limited to carbon block, copper, far infrared media, KDF, and Activated Titanium Carbon (“ATC”). The media  62  works especially well in sulfated waters where sulfates have been used as sequestering or flocculating agents. Other contaminants in water, like lead and other heavy metals, are removed or reduced as the contaminant is bonded to the media  62 . Further, it is believed that oxidation/reduction reactions occurring within the media  62  control microbial growth. Organisms specifically controlled include fungi, algae and bacteria. Once the water supply travels through the media  62  in the cartridge  58 , the water exits the filter assembly  50  through the axial void  64  and the outlet  56 .  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 4 depicts another embodiment of the filter assembly  50 . The filter assembly  50  may include filter pads for preventing the media from traveling outside of the housing. For example, an inlet pad  70  inside the housing  52  prevents the filtering media  62  from through the inlet  54  and an outlet pad  74  prevents the media  62  from traveling through the outlet  56 . In one embodiment, various types of filtering media  62  may be employed which may be separated into separate chambers by at least one interior pad  76 . The media  62  may include but is not limited to any combination of far infrared, copper, granulated activated carbon, KDF, and ATC. The skilled artisan will appreciate that the interior pad  76  need not be present to accomplish the objective of the present invention. In such an embodiment, the housing  52  is sequentially filled with different types of media  62  such that there are substantially distinct areas of the different media  62 , yet they are in contact with each other. The inlet pad  70 , the outlet pad  74 , and the interior pad  76  may be constructed from any type of porous material including but not limited to stainless steel mesh or screens, Porex, plastic mesh or screens, and sintered metal.  
         [0028]    In another embodiment of the present invention depicted in FIG. 5, a filter assembly  50  may be inserted into a spray head  112 . The spray head  112  comprises a spray handle  116 , a nozzle  118 , and a spray body  120 . The spray body  120  is elongated in comparison to those generally known in the art to conceal the filter assembly  50  inside the spray head  112 . The spray body  120  has a distal end  122  and a proximal end  124  and a cavity  126  extending from the proximal end  124  to at least partially the distal end  122 . The distal end  122  comprises the spray handle  116  and the nozzle  118  as well as other water dispensing components (not shown) as are generally known in the art for controlling the flow of water out of the spray head  112 . Water dispensing components include but are not limited to valves, channels, seals, and flow restrictors. The cavity  126  houses the filter assembly  50 . The proximal end  124  of the spray body  120  has an opening  128  for receiving the filter assembly  50  into the cavity  126 . In one embodiment, toward the distal end  122  of the spray body  120 , the cavity  126  has a female end  127  to receive the outlet  56  of the filter assembly  50 . The female end  127  has internal threads that receive the external threads of the outlet  56 . When the outlet  56  engages the female end  127  of the cavity  126 , the filter assembly  50  is detachably attached to the spray head  112 . The spray hose assembly  14  described above may be employed to fluidly communicate with the proximal end  124  of the spray body  120  and the inlet  54  of the filter assembly  50 . The spray hose coupling  24  detachably attaches to the inlet  54  as described above.  
         [0029]    The filter assembly  50  may serve as the primary and only filter or may be secondary to or replaced by a filter assembly  100 . FIGS.  6 - 9  depict a filter assembly  100  for filtering water supplied to a spray attachment  10 , which may be concealed under a sink  34 .  
         [0030]    As depicted in FIG. 6, the filter assembly  100  comprises a housing  52  having the inlet  54  and the outlet  56  to allow water to flow through the housing  52  and the outlet pad  74  impeding the filtering media  62  from traveling through the outlet  56 . In one embodiment, various types of filtering media  62  may be employed, which may be separated into separate chambers (not shown) by interior pads  76  (not shown). The skilled artisan will appreciate that the interior pad  76  need not be present to accomplish the objective of the present invention. In such an embodiment, the housing  52  is sequentially filled with different types of media  62  such that there are substantially distinct areas of the different media  62 , yet they are in contact with each other. In another embodiment, the inlet pad  70  impedes the movement the filtering media  62  through the inlet  54 . The same materials may be used for the media  62  and the housing  52  as well as the outlet pad  74 , the inlet pad  70 , and the interior pads  76  as described above. Further, the inlet pad  70 , the outlet pad  74 , and the interior pads  76  may have a mesh value in a range of about 50 to about 100 microns.  
         [0031]    The foregoing description exemplifies a simple embodiment of the filter assembly  100 . One skilled in the art would recognize that many types of filter assemblies may be employed in the present invention. In the following embodiments, the filter assembly  100  may be concealed under the sink  34  and within a cabinet (not shown). In one embodiment, the filter assembly  100  is affixed to the cabinet.  
         [0032]    The filter assembly  100  may be utilized with a two-handle faucet assembly  140  as depicted in FIG. 7 or with a single handle faucet assembly  160  as depicted in FIG. 8A and 9. Also, the filter assembly  100  may be used with faucet assemblies having the spray attachment  10  as depicted in FIGS. 7 and 8A or with faucet assemblies without the spray attachment  10  as depicted in FIG. 9. The following embodiments describe the filter assembly  100  in relation to either the single handle or the two-handle faucet assembly  160  and  140 , respectively, and in relation to faucet assemblies with or without the spray attachment  10 . These embodiments are not intended to be limited to the particular faucet assemblies depicted. One skilled in the art would recognize that these embodiments may be carried out by employing any of the faucet assemblies described.  
         [0033]    In the two-handle faucet assembly  140  depicted in FIG. 7, a cold water supply line  142  runs to a cold water handle  144  and a hot water supply line  146  runs to a hot water handle  148 . The cold water supply line  142  and the hot water supply line  146  combine each water supply at a coupler tee  150  with standard plumbing fittings (not shown) including but not limited to washers, nuts, and rings, as are generally known in the art. O-rings (not shown) provide a water tight seal between the other fittings connecting the supply lines  142  and  146  and the coupler tee  150  to permit water flow therethrough without leakage. The cold and hot water supply lines  142  and  146 , respectively, may be made of a copper material, or other similarly conductive material, which may connect to a flexible hose material from the cold and hot water handles  144  and  148 , respectively, to the coupler tee  150 . The coupler tee  150  then fluidly communicates with a spout assembly  152 . One skilled in the art would recognize that a spout assembly  152  may include but is not limited to spouts, rings, seals, and diverters (not shown). A hose shank  154  also extends from the coupler tee  150  to provide fluid communication between the coupler tee  150  and the spray hose  30 . The spray hose  30  connects to the hose shank  154  and provides the water supply to the spray head  12 . However, in this embodiment, the spray hose  30  is disconnected from the hose shank  154 . Instead, the inlet  54  of the filter assembly  100  may be detachably attached to the hose shank  154  with the fittings (not shown). The outlet  56  of the filter assembly  100  detachably attaches to the spray hose  30  with fittings that are well known in the art. The spray hose  30  detachably attaches to the spray head  12  or spray head  112  as described above. The spray hose  30  is stored under the sink  34  and is supplied through the spray holder  32  when the spray hose  30  is pulled. In one embodiment, approximately  48  inches of spray hose  30  is utilized.  
         [0034]    Alternatively, the filter assembly  100  may be plumbed directly into the cold water supply line  142  as depicted in FIG. 8A. FIG. 8A depicts a single handle faucet assembly  160  with a cold water supply line  142  and a hot water supply line  146  that combine each water supply at the coupler tee  150  with the fittings (not shown) described above. The cold and hot water supply lines  142  and  146 , respectively, may be made of a copper material, or other similarly conductive material. The coupler tee  150  fluidly communicates with the spout assembly  152 . A handle  162  extends from the spout assembly  152  to control the temperature and amount of water dispensed from the spout assembly  152 . One skilled in the art would recognize that a spout assembly  152  may include but is not limited to spouts, rings, seals, and diverters (not shown). A hose shank  154  may also extend from the coupler tee  150  to provide fluid communication with the spray attachment  10 . However, in this embodiment, the spray hose  30  is removed from the hose shank  154 , and the hose shank  154  is covered with a pipe cap  164 . The filter assembly  100  is plumbed into the cold water supply line  142  with an adapter tee  166  having ports  168 ,  170 , and  172 , as depicted in FIG. 8B. Port  168  of the adapter tee  166  receives the lower portion  174  of the cold water supply line  142 . Port  170  receives the upper portion  176  of the cold water supply line  142  which carries the cold water supply to the coupler tee  150 . Port  172  receives the inlet  54  of the filter assembly  100 . The outlet  56  of the filter assembly  100  may have a fitting (not shown) that attaches to the spray hose  30  that supplies filtered water to the spray head  12 .  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 9 depicts an embodiment of a faucet assembly which is not configured to receive the spray attachment  10 . The filter assembly  100  connects to the cold water supply line  142  in the same manner as described for FIG. 8A, except that the pipe cap  164  is not needed because the coupler tee  150  does not have a hose shank  154 .  
         [0036]    The foregoing embodiments have been described in relation to providing a filtered cold water supply to the spray attachment  10 . One skilled in the art would recognize that a filtered hot water supply could be provided to the spray attachment  10  in a similar manner.  
         [0037]    In another embodiment depicted in FIGS. 10, 11A and  11 B, the spray attachment  10  may dispense hot water from the spray position  40  and cold water from the stream position  38 . One skilled in the art would recognize that the stream and spray positions  38  and  40 , respectively, may be designated as other positions including but not limited to hot and cold water positions. When the selector valve  36  is in the stream position  38 , cold water dispenses through the stream spout  42  on the spray body  20 . When the selector valve  36  is in the spray position  40 , hot water dispenses through the spray spout  44  of the spray body  20 . In this embodiment, the spray hose assembly  14  includes a hot water spray hose  180  having an anterior end  182  and a posterior end  184  and a cold water spray hose  186  having an anterior end  188  and a posterior end  190 . One skilled in the art would recognize that the following embodiments may be utilized with any type of faucet assembly including but not limited to the embodiments depicted in FIGS.  7 - 9 .  
         [0038]    The spray hoses  180  and  186 , respectively, may be aligned either parallel or coaxial to one another. FIG. 10 depicts hot and cold water spray hoses  180  and  186 , respectively, that are aligned parallel to one another. The spray hose assembly  14  including the hot and cold water spray hoses  180  and  186  may detachably attach to the spray head  112  in the manner described above. However, the posterior end  184  of the hot water spray hose  180  bypasses the filter assembly  50  and fluidly communicates with the spray spout  44  to provide hot water to the spray spout  44  when the selector valve  36  is in the spray position  40 . The anterior end  182  of the hot water spray hose  180  connects to the hot water supply line  146  with the adapter tee  166  in the manner described above in reference to FIGS. 8A, 8B, and  9 . The posterior end  190  of the cold water spray hose  186  detachably attaches to the inlet  54  of the filter assembly  50  with fittings that are generally well known in the art. The filter assembly  50  communicates with the stream spout  42  to provide filtered cold water to the stream spout  42  when the selector valve  36  is in the stream position  38 . The anterior end  188  of the cold water spray hose  186  connects to the cold water supply line  142  with the adapter tee  166  in the manner described above in reference to FIGS. 8A, 8B, and  9 .  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 11A depicts hot and cold water spray hoses  180  and  186 , respectively, that are aligned coaxial to one another. In one embodiment, the hot water spray hose  180  surrounds the cold water spray hose  186 . The hot water spray hose  180  detachably attaches to the proximal end  124  of the spray head  112  or to a fitting  192  which detachably attaches the hot water spray hose  180  with the opening  128  in the spray head  112 . Hot water supplied to the posterior end  184  of the hot water spray hose  180  enters the cavity  126  and travels to a channel  130  which bypasses the filter assembly  50  and communicates with the spray spout  44  to provide hot water to the spray spout  44  when the selector valve  36  is in the spray position  40  (FIG. 2).  
         [0040]    The posterior end  190  of the cold water spray hose  186  enters the spray head  112  through the opening  128  into the cavity  126  and detachably attaches to the inlet  54  of the filter assembly  50 . In one embodiment, the fitting  192  couples the inlet  54  of the filter assembly  50  with the posterior end  190  of the cold water spray hose  186  to further provide a tight seal and to prevent extraction. A seal  193  abuts the filter assembly  50  to prevent leakage of hot water from the cavity  126 . The outlet  56  of the filter assembly  50  fluidly communicates with the stream spout  42  to provide filtered cold water to the stream spout  42  when the selector valve  36  is in the stream position  38  (FIG. 2).  
         [0041]    As depicted in FIG. 11B, the hot water and cold water spray hoses  180  and  186 , respectively, fluidly communicate with the hot water and cold water supply lines  146  and  142 , respectively, in a similar manner to FIG. 11A. The anterior end  182  of the hot water spray hose  180  detachably attaches to a manifold  194  or the fitting  192 , which detachably attaches the hot water spray hose  180  with the manifold  194 . Hot water supplied to the anterior end  182  of the hot water spray hose  180  enters a manifold cavity  196  and travels to a hot water channel  198 . The hot water channel  198  receives a hot water tube  200  which fluidly communicates with the hot water supply line  146 . In one embodiment, the hot water tube  200  fluidly communicates with the hot water supply line  146  through the use of the adapter tee  166  or other similar type fitting. The anterior end  188  of the cold water spray hose  186  enters the manifold  194  into the manifold cavity  196  and detachably attaches to a cold water tube  202  which fluidly communicates with the cold water supply line  142 . In one embodiment, the fitting  192  may couple the cold water tube  202  with the anterior end  188  of the cold water spray hose  186  to further provide a tight seal and to prevent extraction. In one embodiment, the cold water tube  202  fluidly communicates with the cold water supply line  142  through the use of an adapter tee  166  or other similar type fitting.  
         [0042]    Fittings  192  are generally well known in the art and may include but are not limited to barbs, threads, and couplers. The foregoing embodiments describe the use of at least two fittings  192  to attach the hot and cold water spray hoses  180  and  186 , respectively, to the spray head  112  and at least two fittings to attach the hot water and cold water spray hoses  180  and  186 , respectively, to the hot and cold water tubes  200  and  202 , respectively. FIG. 11C depicts an alternate embodiment of fittings  192  utilized in the present invention wherein only one fitting  192  is need to accomplish each connection.  
         [0043]    Referring to FIGS.  1 - 11 C, the present invention further comprises a method for removing contaminants from water supplied to a spray attachment  10 . The method may comprise attaching the filter assembly  50  to the spray head  12  or  112  or plumbing the filter assembly  100  into the water supply lines  142  or  146  or into the hose shank  154 .  
         [0044]    In attaching the filter assembly  50  to the spray head  12  or  112  as depicted in FIGS.  1 - 5 , the user first detaches the spray head  12  or  112  from the spray hose assembly  14 . Then, the filter assembly  50  is detachably attached to the spray hose assembly  14  and the spray head  12  or spray head  112 , whichever is applicable. One skilled in the art would recognize that the filter assembly  50  may be attached to the spray hose assembly  14  and the spray head  12  or  112  in any order. The spray hose coupling  24  is secured to the inlet  54  of the filter assembly  50  and the outlet  56  of the filter assembly  50  is secured to the opening  21  or  128 , whichever is applicable, of the spray head  12  or  112 . When the spray handle  16  or  116  is depressed, water is supplied to the spray hose  30 , the water flows from the spray hose  30  into the inlet  54 , through the housing  52  and exits through the outlet  56  to the spray head  12  or  112  and out the nozzle  18  or  118 .  
         [0045]    In one embodiment depicted in FIG. 3A, when the water supply enters the inlet  54 , the water travels through the end cap  60  which guides the water to channel  59 , to the cartridge  58  and through the media  62 , into the axial void  64 , and exits through the outlet  56 . The contaminants are removed from the water by bonding the contaminants to the media  62 . Also, organisms are removed from the water by reacting the organisms in an oxidation/reduction reaction with the media  62 , if applicable. In another embodiment depicted in FIG. 4, the water supply passes through the inlet  54  and inlet pad  70 , if applicable, of the housing  52 . Next, the water is dispersed through the chambers of media  62 , and interior pads  76 , if applicable, within the housing  52 . The contaminants are removed from the water by bonding the contaminants to the media  62  and filters. Also, organisms are removed from the water by reacting the organisms in an oxidation/reduction reaction with the media  62 , if applicable. The water supply, then, passes through the outlet pad  74  and exits through the outlet  56  of the filter assembly  50 .  
         [0046]    In a method employing the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 2, 10, and  11 A- 11 C, the user may adjust the selector valve  36  on the spray head  12  to the spray position  40  or the stream position  38  depending on the user&#39;s preference and need for the spray attachment  10 . For example, the spray position  40  may be used to rinse foods, vegetables, hands, etc., with filtered water and the stream position  38  may be utilized to fill a drinking container or when only a stream flow is desired. The spray attachment  10  depicted in FIGS. 10, 11A and  11 B may be adjusted to provide hot water by adjusting the selector valve  36  to the spray position  40  and filtered cold water by adjusting the selector valve  36  to the stream position  38 . When the selector valve  36  is placed in the spray position  40 , hot water is supplied to the faucet assembly. The hot water is then diverted into the hot water spray hose  180  and passed into the spray head  12  where the hot water bypasses the filter assembly  50  and exits through the spray spout  44 . In one embodiment, the water is passed into the cavity  126  in the spray head and directed the into the channel  130  until it reaches the spray spout  44 . When the selector valve  36  is placed in the stream position  42 , cold water is supplied to the faucet assembly. The cold water is then diverted into the cold water spray hose  186  and passed into the inlet  54  of the filter assembly  50 . After the water has traveled through the housing  52  of the filter assembly  50 , in the embodiments discussed above, the water exits the outlet  56  and is directed to the stream spout  42 .  
         [0047]    Further, the spray attachment  10  may be used in situ in the spray holder  32  or may be extended from its resting position in the spray holder  32  to supply filtered water. Valves (not shown) control the retention and release of the cold and hot water depending on the user&#39;s preference. In the resting position, filtered water may be obtained by the actuation of the spray handle  16  and positioning the container to be filled or the item to be washed under the spray head  12 . In the extended position, filtered water may be obtained similarly by operation of the spray handle  16  and positioning the spray head  12  over the container or item that may be remotely located on a countertop, for instance, but within the range of the tubing supplied. The extended position also allows the user to remain more erect when using the spray attachment  10  to dispense filtered water.  
         [0048]    Referring to FIG. 7, in another embodiment, the cold water handle  144  and/or the hot water handle  148  are placed in an “on” position to open the cold water and/or hot water supply lines  142  and  146 , respectively. The water supply may then travel through the cold water and hot water supply lines  142  and  146 , respectively, to the coupler tee  150 . The water supply then travels from the coupler tee  150 , to the hose shank  154 , and through the filter assembly  100 . The water supply passes through the inlet  54  and inlet pad  70 , if applicable, of the housing  52 . Next, the water is dispersed through the chambers of media  62 , and filters, if applicable, within the housing  52 . The contaminants are removed from the water by bonding the contaminants to the media  62  and filters. Also, organisms are removed from the water by reacting the organisms in an oxidation/reduction reaction with the media  62 , if applicable. The water supply, then, passes through the outlet pad  74  and the outlet  56  of the filter assembly  100  into the spray hose  30 . The filtered water supply is then dispensed from the spray head  12  when a user presses on the spray handle  16 .  
         [0049]    As depicted in FIGS. 8A and 9, an alternate method does not require the cold water and/or hot water supply lines  162  and  164 , respectively, to be opened. The water supply travels from the cold water supply line  162  to the port  168  of the adapter tee  166 . The water supply exits the adapter tee  166  through the port  172  and enters the filter assembly  100  through the inlet  54  and inlet pad  70 , if applicable, of the housing  52 . Next, the water is dispersed through the chambers of media  62 , and filters, if applicable, within the housing  52 . The contaminants are removed from the water by bonding the contaminants to the media  62  and filters. Also, organisms are removed from the water by reacting the organisms in an oxidation/reduction reaction with the media  62 , if applicable. The water supply, then, passes through the outlet pad  74  and outlet  56  of the filter assembly  100  into the spray hose  30 . The filtered water supply is then dispensed from the spray head  12  when a user presses on the spray handle  16 .  
         [0050]    While there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the instant invention it is to be appreciated that the invention may be embodied otherwise than is herein specifically shown and described and that, within said embodiment, certain changes may be made in the form and arrangement of the parts without departing from the underlying ideas or principles of this invention as set forth in the claims appended herewith.