Patent ID: 7429326

Claim:
A water purification cartridge, comprising: (a) a first porous layer having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the first porous layer has a micron rating between about 10 and about 200; (b) a porous purification block having an outer surface and an inner surface, and at least partially enclosed by the first porous layer, wherein the porous purification block has a micron rating ranging between about 0.5 and 10; (c) a cavity between the inner surface of the first porous layer and the outer surface of the porous purification block and in fluid communication with the porous purification block; (d) one or more particulate or fibrous purification media disposed within the cavity having a particle size distribution ranging from about 50 mesh to about 375 mesh; and wherein the first porous layer is sufficiently porous to allow water to flow through it between its outer and inner surface, but not sufficiently porous to allow significant quantities of particulate or fibrous purification media to pass through the porous layer.