Patent Document

[0001]    This application is a continuation in part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/417,836 which was filed on Oct. 14, 1999 and which is still pending. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention relates to water treatment apparatus which includes a filter member through which the water passes as it is treated in the apparatus. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus, such as a countertop water treatment appliance, uses a gas, preferably ozone, as a water treatment agent.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Water treatment apparatus using oxidizing gases have been developed. Some of these devices operate on a batch basis. According to this process, the water is placed in a treatment container and the treatment agent (e.g. a gas), is disbursed through the water, such as via a sparger. Following the completion of the cycle, the water may then be used. As part of the treatment process, the water may be passed through a filter member such as a carbon block filter. As water is passed through the carbon block filer, the operation of the filter results in the pores becoming blocked and the rate of water flow therethough diminishes until such time as the filter is replaced.  
           [0004]    While domestic water treatment applications are known, they typically use only filtration to remove a variety of dissolved materials in the water. While ozone has become generally accepted in the field of municipal water treatment, it has not been adopted into wide scale application in the home. There are several reasons for this, one of which is consumer confidence. After water is treated with ozone, it contains decomposition products produced by the oxidizing action of ozone which are preferably removed prior to dispensing.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    In accordance with the instant invention, there is provided a domestic countertop water treatment apparatus comprising a water treatment reservoir which has at least a vertical portion that is at least translucent; a housing having an ozone source in flow communication with the water treatment reservoir for treating water in the water treatment reservoir; a carbon block filter and a water pump mounted in the housing, the carbon block filter and the water pump in flow communication with the water treatment reservoir for removing treated water from the water treatment reservoir and passing the treated water through the carbon block filter; and, a treated water reservoir which has at least a vertical portion that is at least translucent and is positioned downstream from the carbon block filter for receiving treated water from the carbon block filter, wherein the rate of drop of the water level in the water treatment reservoir is form 60% to 140% of the rate of rise of the water level the treated water reservoir.  
           [0006]    In accordance with another aspect of the instant invention, there is provided a domestic countertop water treatment apparatus comprising a water treatment reservoir which has at least a vertical portion that is at least translucent; a housing having an ozone source in flow communication with the water treatment reservoir for treating water in the water treatment reservoir; a carbon block filter and a water pump mounted in the housing, the carbon block filter and the water pump in flow communication with the water treatment reservoir for removing treated water from the water treatment reservoir and passing the treated water through the carbon block filter; and, a treated water reservoir which has at least a vertical portion that is at least translucent and is positioned downstream from the carbon block filter for receiving treated water from the carbon block filter whereby, as treated water is dispensed from the water treatment reservoir to the treated water reservoir, the level of water in the water treatment reservoir is visibly lowered while the level of water in the treated water reservoir is visibly raised.  
           [0007]    In one embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a switch which, when actuated, automatically actuates the water pump to dispense treated water from the water treatment reservoir to the treated water reservoir.  
           [0008]    In another embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a treated water dispenser, the treated water reservoir is separate from the housing and the switch is actuated when the treated water reservoir is positioned beneath the treated water dispenser.  
           [0009]    In another embodiment, the ozone source comprises an ozone generator.  
           [0010]    In another embodiment, each of the vertical strip of the water treatment reservoir and the treated water reservoir is transparent. Preferably all, or substantially all, of the water treatment reservoir and the treated water reservoir is sufficiently transparent so that a user may view the water level as it is reduced in the water treatment reservoir and view the water level in the treated water reservoir as the water is dispensed.  
           [0011]    In another embodiment, the water treatment reservoir and the treated water reservoir have approximately the same volume.  
           [0012]    In another embodiment, the rate of reduction of the water level in the water treatment reservoir is approximately the same as the rate of increase of the water level in the treated water reservoir.  
           [0013]    In another embodiment, the carbon block filter has pores which are less than 50μ, preferably less than 10 and more preferably are less than 1μ. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    These and other advantages of the instant application will be more fully and clearly understood in connection with the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention in which:  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus according to the instant invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is a top plan view of FIG. 1 with a treated water carafe shown in position for receiving water dispensed from the apparatus of FIG. 1;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 is a cross-section along the line  3 - 3  in FIG. 2;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 4 with the treatment carafe removed therefrom;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 5 is a cross-section along the line  3  - 3  of FIG. 2 of the treatment carafe when removed from the base portion of the apparatus; and,  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 wherein the apparatus is dispensing treated water to a treated water carafe. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0021]    Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the water treatment apparatus is generally designated by reference numeral  10 . The apparatus comprises a base  12 , removable treatment carafe  14  and housing  18 . Housing  18  may be of any particular design and may contain any required sensing equipment, water filters, pumps and the like. Housing  18  is preferably connectable in flow communication with treatment carafe  14  such that treated water may be dispensed from dispenser  20  after the completion of the treatment cycle of the water in treatment carafe  14 . As shown in FIG. 2, a treated water carafe  16  may be positioned underneath dispenser  20  for receiving the treated water.  
         [0022]    The shape and configuration of treatment carafe  14  and treated water carafe  16  may be of any particular design which is aesthetically pleasing. As shown in particular in FIGS. 3 and 5, treatment carafe  14  has a top  22 , side walls  24  and a bottom  26 . Optionally, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a handle  28  may be provided to allow the user to manipulate carafe  14 .  
         [0023]    Carafe  14  is designed to be filled with a liquid which is to be treated. In particular, it is preferred that the liquid is water. Carafe  14  is removably mounted to base  12 . Accordingly, when the user wishes to treat water, the user may be move carafe  14 , e.g. by means of handle  18 . The top  22  of carafe  14  may be placed underneath a source of water (e.g. a kitchen tap) and the tap may be turned on to allow the carafe to be filled. Once filled, carafe  14  may then be placed on base  12 .  
         [0024]    In one preferred embodiment of this invention, in order to simplify the filling operation, top  22  is provided with a recess  30 . The upper portion of carafe  14  is provided with at least one, but preferably a plurality of water inlet ports  32  in recess  30 . Recess  30  may be of any particular configuration which provides an open area in which the water to be treated may be poured so that it may drain into carafe  14  through water inlet ports  32 . Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 5, recess  30  may be funnel shaped. For example, the upper portion of cavity  14  has an upper surface  34 . A portion of upper surface  34  may comprise sloped portion  36  which extends downwardly towards the centre of carafe  30 . By designing carafe  40  with a recess  32  containing water inlet ports  32 , the user need not remove a lid from carafe  14  so as to fill it. It will be appreciated that the automatic sealing mechanism and the automatic gas conduit connection feature of this invention may be designed to work regardless of the shape of the top of carafe  14 . For example, the top of carafe  14  may be flat and that inlet ports  32  may be provided in the flat top (not shown). The creation of a recess provides a funnel to reduce or prevent spillage during the filling operation.  
         [0025]    The water in treatment carafe  14  is treated with an oxidizing gas. The oxidizing gas is preferably ozone. However, other oxidizing gases such as hydrogen peroxide are known. The remaining description is based upon a preferred embodiment in which the oxidizing gas is ozone.  
         [0026]    When the treatment cycle is commenced, ozone is introduced into carafe  14 . In the preferred embodiment, carafe  14  is provided with an annular sparger  38  which has a plurality of openings in the surface thereof. Sparger  38  is connected to a supply port  40 . Supply port  40  has an associated valve  42 . Base  12  is provided with a supply conduit  44  which is seated immediately below valve  42 . Supply conduit  44  is in air flow communication with a source of ozone. For example, an air pump may be positioned upstream of supply conduit  44  so as to feed air to an ozone generator which in turn provides a feed supply of ozone to supply conduit  44 . The air pump and the ozone generator may be provided in one of the housings  18 . Electricity to run the electronics of the unit, including the air pump and the ozone generator, may be supplied by means of electric cord  46  (see FIG. 2).  
         [0027]    Valve  42  is movable between an open position and a closed position. When valve  42  is in the closed position, sparger  38  is sealed. Accordingly, as water is introduced into carafe  14 , water will not drain through supply port  40 . When valve  42  is in the open position, ozone may be supplied via conduit  44 , through port  40  into sparger  38 . Valve  42  may be moved from the closed position to the open position by means of the force of ozone containing air passing through conduit  44 . It is to be appreciated that valve  42  may be biased to the closed position by gravity, a spring or the like.  
         [0028]    Treated water may be decanted from carafe  14  by any means known in the art. Accordingly, carafe  14  could be removed from base  12  and the water decanted such as by means of a spout or the like. Preferably, the treated water is decanted from carafe  14  while carafe  14  is positioned on base  12 . To this end, a water exit port  48  may be provided in bottom  26  (see FIG. 3). A valve  50  is provided in water exit port  48 . At the end of a cycle, valve  50  may be actuated, for example, by the means of solenoid  52 . When solenoid  52  is actuated, linkage  54 , moved engagement member  56  upwardly. This movement displaces engagement member  56  upwardly so as to move displacer rod  58  upwardly. The upward movement of displacer rod  58  moves valve  50  to the open position allowing the treated water to exit through water exit port  48 . Water exit port  48  may be in flow communication with a water pump so as to pump the treated water through a filter  108  (e.g. a carbon block filter) which may be located in housing  18  and from there through dispenser  20  to, e.g. a glass or treated water carafe  16 . Filter  108  preferably has pores which are less than 50μ, preferably less than 10μ and more preferably less than 1μ is size.  
         [0029]    Carafe  14  may be provided with a fill line  60  so as to indicate to the user the portion of carafe  14  which should be filled with water to be treated. Fill line  60  may be provided at any location in carafe  14  provided a chamber or the like which acts as an off gas receiving means is provided above fill line  60  for receiving off gases. The top of carafe  14  may be flat if the carafe is not filled to the top. Alternately, the top of carafe  14  may be angled so as to direct the off gas to a particular location, head gas space  62 . In the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 5, the top of carafe  14  has an angled top to create an annular head gas space  62  in which the off gas may accumulate. During the treatment of water in carafe  14 , ozone is bubbled through the water by means of sparger  38 . The off gases accumulate above the water (e.g. above fill line  60 ) in head gas space  62 .  
         [0030]    Ozone may cause side effects in people exposed to sufficient quantities of these gases (e.g. headaches). Accordingly, the off gases are preferably collected and treated (e.g. by exposing them to a destructor which will convert the gas to a more benign form). For example, in the case of ozone, the destructor may be a catalyst for converting ozone to oxygen such as one or more of manganese dioxide, titanium dioxide, iron oxide and carbon. Contact between ozone and one or more of these catalyses will case the ozone to convert to oxygen which may then be released harmlessly from the system. Accordingly, in one preferred embodiment, carafe  14  includes a gas conduit having a first end in fluid flow communication with head gas space  62  and a second end which is connected in fluid flow communication with an off gas treatment member (e.g. a destructor) when carafe  14  is placed on base  12  and apparatus  10  is actuated to treat water in carafe  14 .  
         [0031]    Referring to FIG. 5, carafe  14  is provided with a support rod  64  having an arm  66 . Arm  66  has an upper end  68  positioned in head gas space  62  when apparatus  10  is operational. Support rod  64  and arm  66  are hollow so as to define a passage  70  extending from head gas space  62  through bottom  26  of carafe  14 . Support rod  64  is provided with an end portion  72  which is connectable in air flow communication with off gas conduit  74 . Off gas conduit  74  is in air flow communication with off gas treatment member  76 . Off gas treatment member  76  may optionally be positioned in one of the housings  18 . Off gas treatment member  76  may be a destructor for catalytically converting the ozone to a benign gas. Alternately, it may be an off gas sensor, eg. so as to monitor the concentration of ozone in the off gas and provide feed back to the system so as to control the batch cycle. Alternately, a destructor and a sensor may be provided downstream of off gas conduit  74 .  
         [0032]    Preferably, upper end  68  is positioned above water inlet ports  32  so that, when the unit is filled, water will not enter into passage  70 . It will also be appreciated that by placing upper end  68  to one side of carafe  14  (e.g. spaced from water inlet ports  32 ) that water will tend not to enter passage  70  as carafe  14  is filled. It will also be appreciated that upper end  68  may be configured so as to inhibit the entry of water regardless of the position of upper end  68  with respect to water inlet ports  32 . As upper end  68  is positioned and/or configured so as not to allow water to enter passage  70  there through, end portion  72  need not include a valve member to seal passage  70 . Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 5, end portion  72  may be opened when carafe  14  is removed from base  12 .  
         [0033]    Referring to FIG. 4, base  12  is shown having a generally horizontal upper surface  78 . Upper surface  78  is configured so as to allow bottom  26  to be seated thereon. The seating of bottom  26  on upper surface  78  is shown in detail in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 4, three openings are provided in upper surface  78 . The first is the upper end of supply conduit  44  which is engaged with supply port  40  when carafe  14  is placed on base  12 . The second is the top of water outlet conduit  80  which receives treated water when valve  50  is opened. The third is the upper end of off gas conduit  74 . End portion  72  engages the upper end of off gas conduit  74  when carafe  14  is placed on base  12 .  
         [0034]    Accordingly, it will be understood that one advantage of the instant invention is that head gas space  62  is automatically in communication with off gas conduit  74  by placing carafe  14  on base  12 . The user need not make any connections between the carafe and an off gas treatment conduit. Accordingly, ozone will not be accidentally released during the operation of the unit if the consumer forgets to make a connection. Further, if an off gas sensor is used to control the duration of the treatment cycle, all of the off gas will be available for passage through a sensor via conduit  74 .  
         [0035]    In accordance with another embodiment of this invention, sealing member  82  is provided for closing water inlet ports. Sealing member  82  is movable between a first position in which water inlet  32  is sealed (see FIG. 3) and a second position in which the water inlet ports  32  are open (see FIG. 5). Referring to FIG. 3, when carafe  14  is placed on base  12  and is ready for a treatment cycle to begin, sealing member  32  is in the closed position. In this position, engagement surface  84  of sealing member  82  contacts engagement surface  86  of carafe  14  thereby creating a seal between water inlet  32  and the interior of carafe  14 . As shown in FIG. 5, when carafe  14  is removed from the unit and is ready to be filled, sealing member  82  is displaced from engagement surface  86  thereby allowing water to enter through water inlet  32  into carafe  14 .  
         [0036]    A linkage, which is connected to sealing member  82 , is provided for moving sealing member  82  between the second and first positions in response to the placement of carafe  14  on base  12 . Thus, when carafe  14  is placed on base  12 , carafe  14  is automatically sealed and ready for the commencement of a treatment cycle. In a preferred embodiment, sealing member  82  is provided at the upper end of support rod  64  which acts as the driving member. The engagement of end portion  72  into the upper end of off gas conduit  74  drives sealing member  82  (which may be a resilient member which is resistant to ozone) into engagement with engagement surface  86 . Thus, end portion  72  comprises an actuating means drivingly connected to sealing member  82  and operably responsive to placement of carafe  14  on base  12 . It will be appreciated that other means may be provided for moving the sealing means. For example, handle  28  may have a trigger to open sealing member  82  when the user picks up carafe  14 . Thus the user may automatically open water inlet  32  when they pick up the carafe and seal water inlet  32  when they release handle  28 .  
         [0037]    In the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, support rod  64  (with end portion  72 ) operates both as the actuating means as well as the gas conduit means for connecting head gas space  62  with off gas conduit  74 . It will be appreciated that different apparatus may be included in carafe  14  for performing each of these different functions. It will further be appreciated that only one of these two apparatus (i.e. one of the actuating means and the gas conduit means) may be provided in a carafe  14 .  
         [0038]    In order to prevent water from leaking from carafe  14  into off gas conduit  74 , a sealing member may be provided. The sealing member may comprise a water tight bushing provided in bottom  26  surrounding end portion  72 . Alternately, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, a diaphragm  88  may be provided. Diaphragm  88  is a deformable member (preferably a resilient member) which may be made from any ozone resistant material. The upper portion of diaphragm  88  has an opening defining an upper perimeter  90  which surrounds the upper end of end portion  72  and forms a water tight seal therewith. The lower portion of diaphragm  88  is provided with a lower perimeter  92  which is connected to the interior of bottom  26  so as to form a water tight seal with bottom  26 . As support rod  64  moves downwardly to the open position (see FIG. 5) and then back upwardly to the sealed position (see FIG. 3) diaphragm  88  flexes downwardly and upwardly to maintain a water tight seal.  
         [0039]    Support rod  64  may be designed so as to automatically move to the open position as shown in FIG. 5 due the force of gravity when carafe  14  is removed from base  12 . Alternately, a biasing member (e.g. a spring or other resiliently deformable member) may be provided to bias support rod  64  to the open position. The biasing member may be provided so as to interact with any portion of support rod  64  (either upper end  96  or end portion  72 ). For example, a spring  98  may be provided around support arm  100  and upper end  96 . Spring  98  exerts a downward pressure on support rod  64  at all times. Accordingly, when carafe  14  is removed from base  12 , spring  98  will cause support rod  64  to move to the downward position. The weight of carafe  64  is sufficient, particularly when filled with water, to cause support rod  64  to move upwardly thereby compressing spring  98 . Alternately, it will be appreciated that diaphragm  88  may be configured to bias support rod  64  to the open position.  
         [0040]    In a preferred embodiment of the instant invention, both treatment carafe  14  and treated water carafe  16  each have at least a vertical section that is at least translucent and, preferably, is transparent or substantially transparent. Preferably, treatment carafe  14  and treated water carafe  16  are themselves constructed so that, in their entirety, they are at least translucent and, preferably, they are transparent or substantially transparent. Accordingly, the liquid level in both treatment carafe  14  and treated water carafe  16  is visible. Advantageously, by constructing at least a substantial portion of the carafe as transparent or substantially transparent, the user can view the ozonation process and can monitor the liquid level as the treated water is withdrawn from treatment carafe  14  and is received in treated water carafe  16 .  
         [0041]    Referring in particular to FIG. 6, water level  102  is visible to an observer from the exterior of treatment carafe  14 . Similarly, water level  104  in treated water carafe  16  is visible from the exterior. When the dispense cycle is initiated, treated water is drawn from treatment carafe  14  via water exit port  48 . The water travels through conduit  112  to water pump  114 . The water exits water pump  114  via conduit  116  which transports it to carbon block filter  108 . The water passes through carbon block filter where residual ozone and decomposition products produced by the oxidizing action of ozone in treatment carafe  14  are removed. The filtered water is then transported via conduit  110  to dispenser  20  where the dispensed water  106  is dispensed from apparatus  10  and enters treated water carafe  16  via an opening in the upper portion thereof. As water is dispensed, the consumer visibly sees water level  102  dropping in carafe  14  and rising in treated water carafe  16  preferably at about the same rate. In particular, during dispensing, as water level  102  drops to level  102 ′, for example, water level  104  in carafe  16  increases, for example, to level  104 ′. The fact that the water level in carafe  14  is dropping at the same time and at about the same rate as the water level in carafe  16  is rising provides a consumer with a visual check that the water is passing through carbon block filter  108 . It will be appreciated, that slight differences in the rate of drop of the water level in treatment carafe  14  and the rate of rise of the water level in treated water carafe  16  will not be apparent to a user. Therefore, the rate of drop of the water level in treatment carafe  14  and the rate of rise of the water level in treated water carafe  16  need not be the same. Preferably, the rate of drop of the water level in treatment carafe  14  may be form 60% to 140% of the rate of rise of the water level in treated water carafe  16 , more preferably from 75% to 125% and most preferably from 85% to 115%.  
         [0042]    It will be appreciated that other filter media may be used in the treatment of water may be utilized. It will further be appreciated that this aspect of the invention is applicable even if carafe  14  is not removable from base  12 .  
         [0043]    Preferably, apparatus  10  includes an automatic dispense button  118  (see FIG. 1). When automatic dispense button  118  is depressed, pump  114  will be automatically actuated once the treatment cycle in treatment carafe  14  is completed. Preferably, auto dispense button  118  is positioned on apparatus  10  such that it is automatically depressed when carafe  16  is positioned in place beneath dispenser  20 . Accordingly, when the treatment cycle is complete, the water will automatically dispense from dispenser  20  and the consumer will visually be able to monitor the transfer of water from treatment water carafe to treated water carafe  16 .  
         [0044]    It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various additions and modifications may be made to the instant invention and all of these are within scope of the following claims.

Technology Category: 8