Patent ID: 8281937

Claim:
A compact fluid purification device comprising: a housing having an inlet for receiving unfiltered liquid and an open end; a first valve disposed within the inlet and being configured to only permit unfiltered liquid to flow into a hollow interior of the housing; a plunger received within the open end such that it slides within the interior of the housing, the plunger being movable between a fully extended position and a fully retracted position, wherein the plunger has an elongated housing that includes a filter element that is open at a distal end of the plunger housing and is in communication with an outlet that is associated with the plunger, wherein movement of the plunger toward the fully extended position causes unfiltered liquid to be drawn into the interior of the housing, wherein the filter element comprises a plurality of hollow filter membranes in the form of fibers that are open at first ends at the distal end of the plunger and are in communication with the hollow interior, wherein opposite second ends of the fibers are closed, wherein at least a portion of the fibers extend beyond the housing; and a second valve disposed within the outlet and being configured to only permit filtered liquid to be discharged from the plunger housing; wherein the unfiltered liquid is filtered when the plunger is moved toward the fully retracted position causing the unfiltered liquid in the interior to flow into the inside of the fibers and then across the fibers to a plunger space surrounding the fibers and into the outlet which is in fluid communication with the plunger space.