Patent ID: 7862720

Claim:
A portable filter comprising: a filter housing having an inlet and an outlet and a channel for communicating a liquid from said inlet to said outlet, said filter housing being formed and sized to be grasped in and held in a palm of and by one hand of a user during use; a first filter positioned in said channel of said filter housing and configured to filter said liquid passing through said channel; a liquid receiving means connectable to said inlet of said filter housing, said liquid receiving means being configured to receive said liquid from a source separate from said filter housing and to transmit said liquid to said channel through said inlet; a bite valve having a receiver formed with and extending from said filter housing as the outlet thereof to extend substantially rigidly away from said filter housing, said bite valve being configured to receive said liquid from said channel, said bite valve being configured to place into a mouth of said user, said bite valve being operable by said user biting on said bite valve to operate it between an open position for passing said liquid through said bite valve to transmit said liquid into said user's mouth and a closed position inhibiting the passage of said liquid through said bite valve; a pre-filter assembly connected to said inlet of said filter housing and housing a pre-filter, said liquid receiving means comprising at least one molded section of the pre-filter assembly; a filter end cap disposed between said first filter and said pre-filter assembly, said filter end cap including a first plurality of guide vanes configured to receive said liquid from said pre-filter assembly and spread said liquid to a space between said first filter and said filter housing; and, wherein said first filter is sealed from said liquid receiving means to said bite valve, said user generating a suction with said mouth on said bite valve when said bite valve is in said open position to suction said liquid from said liquid receiving means through said first filter and into said bite valve.