Patent ID: 8888998

Claim:
A water filter system having a filter element comprising: a head including a three-way valve member including a first flow channel, a second flow channel and a third flow channel, wherein said first, second and third flow channels are separate, non-intersecting flow channels that are spaced from each other, said valve member being movable between a first position, a second position, and a third position, said head defining a longitudinal axis; a filter housing removably mounted to said head and including the filter element; and a support plate seated in said filter housing, said support plate being transverse to and extending radially from the longitudinal axis, said support plate including upwardly extending tabs configured for aligning said valve member with said filter housing, and a downwardly extending wall for aligning said support plate with said filter housing, wherein when the valve member is in the first position, incoming water is directed through said third flow channel to the filter element to remove sediment and impurities from the water and filtered water flows out through said first flow channel, when the valve member is in the second position, the incoming water is blocked from passing through the filter element and the valve member, and when the valve member is in the third position, the incoming water passes through said second flow channel of the valve member and not the filter element so that the filter element can be removed and replaced without interrupting the incoming water flow.