Patent ID: 8728313

Claim:
A water filter system comprising: a base including a bottom support and a vertical support transversely extending from said bottom support, said bottom support including an incoming water port for receiving unfiltered water and an outgoing water port for receiving filtered water; a filter cartridge including a body having threads, a cap having threads, a filter element in said body, a water inlet and a water outlet, wherein said threads on said cap matingly engage said threads on said body to enable said cap to be removed from and re-connected to said body, said cap defining an opening in communication with an interior of said body, said filter cartridge being connected to said base adjacent to said vertical support, said water inlet and said water outlet being respectively in fluid communication with said incoming water port and said outgoing water port; an enhancement cartridge configured to be inserted through said opening and connected to said body, said enhancement cartridge being in fluid communication with said filter cartridge and including an enhancement material for adding minerals to the filtered water, said enhancement cartridge being independently removable from said body through said cap while said filter cartridge is connected to said base and including a housing and a handle member attached to said housing, said handle member including a handle configured to move between a storage position and a use position for removing the enhancement cartridge from the filter cartridge, said handle member including a stop wherein said handle engages said stop when it is moved to said storage position; and a cover configured to enclose said filter cartridge and said vertical support and engage said bottom support.