Water dispenser abstract
A portable, refillable water dispenser serving batches of water
purified of organic and inorganic pollutants includes a portable,
refillable and hand-holdable vessel for holding and pouring water
having a spout and, inside the portable, refillable and hand-holdable
vessel, moving water and still water processing module cooperative
to remove inorganic and organic pollutants from water received batchwise
by the vessel.
Water dispenser claims
What is claimed is:
1. A portable, refillable water dispenser serving batches of water
purified of organic and inorganic impurities, comprising: a water
pitcher having an open top, side and bottom walls enclosing a basin
for holding still water, a spout in fluid communication with the
basin for pouring water, and a removable lid mounted to the open
top of the pitcher; a moving water processing module including a
bucket mounted inside the water pitcher having an open top in fluid
communication with the open mouth of the pitcher and having side
and bottom walls that enclose a volume whose capacity, when filled,
accepts a batch of water to be treated that is poured all at once
thereinto, a flow-through filter removably mounted to said bucket
bottom wall that is fed with the water of each batch of water by
action of gravity, said flow-through filter including filter media
that acts to remove non-living organic (carbon) and inorganic impurities
as said water flows therethrough and to streamwise discharge that
water into said basin; and a still water processing module including
a UV line radiator disposed within the basin of the pitcher connected
to a controller and control panel and user interface carried by
the pitcher operative in response to UV treatment sequencing initiation
control input after all of the water of a batch of water has been
discharged streamwise from the moving water processing module and
received by the basin of the pitcher which contains it batchwise
as a body of still water to provide UV radiation that is omnipresent
to every region of the body of still water contained batchwise by
the basin with an intensity and a duration to neutralize living
organism organic impurities at every region of the body of still
water contained batchwise by the basin, and, thereafter, to provide
a signal indication at the control panel and user interface that
a batch of water purified of living and nonliving organic and inorganic
pollutants is ready to be served through the spout of the pitcher.
2. The portable, refillable water dispenser serving batches of
water purified of organic and inorganic pollutants of claim 1 wherein
the removable lid includes a fill opening therethrough, and a mechanism
cooperative therewith to allow water to be received through said
fill opening but to block direct viewing of UV radiation within
said pitcher.
3. The portable, refillable water dispenser serving batches of
water purified of organic and inorganic pollutants of claim 2 wherein
said mechanism includes a louvered disc valve.
4. The portable, refillable water dispenser serving batches of
water purified of organic and inorganic pollutants of claim 1 wherein
said flow-through filter media is an ion exchange and activated
carbon flow-through filter.
5. The portable, refillable water dispenser serving batches of
water purified of organic and inorganic pollutants of claim 1 further
including a lid seat sensing switch mounted to the removable lid
connected to said controller to disable the UV line radiator in
the basin of the pitcher when the removable lid is off of the pitcher.
6. The portable, refillable water dispenser serving batches of
water purified of organic and inorganic pollutants of claim 1 wherein
the controller monitors the time since it was last actuated, and
if a predetermined time elapses since it was last actuated, it provides
a signal indication at the control panel and user interface to retreat
the batch of water.
7. The portable, refillable water dispenser serving batches of
water purified of organic and inorganic pollutants of claim 1 wherein
said UV line radiator of said still water processing module is upstanding
in, and centrally disposed within, said basin.
Water dispenser description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention is drawn to the field of water purification, more
particularly, to point of use water purifiers, and more particularly,
to a novel portable, refillable water dispenser serving batches
of water purified or organic and inorganic pollutants.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Systems that treat water for regional consumption such as municipal
waterworks and systems that treat water for point of use consumption
are the two basic types of systems by which water may be treated
to remove impurities. The municipal systems, of course, afford no
purification of other than "city" water, such as well
water, and organic and inorganic impurities often remain in "city"
water notwithstanding filtration, UV treatment, ozone treatment
or treatment by any of the other water purification techniques well-known
to those of skill in the art. The point of use systems for their
part may be locally installed or portable. However, point of use
systems installed into existing plumbing are typically line-powered,
requiring line voltage and current for the treatment of water, and
often involve an expense beyond the budget of many consumers for
equipment acquisition, installation services and periodic maintenance.
The portable point of use systems on the other hand are often cumbersome,
suitcase-sized units that are difficult to use, involving multiple
manual treatment steps, or do not remove both inorganic and organic
impurities, and sometimes are no less expensive to acquire and maintain
than their installed counterparts.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It accordingly is the general object of the present invention to
provide a novel point of use water purifier, and more particularly,
to provide a portable, refillable water dispenser that itself serves
batches of water purified of both organic and inorganic pollutants.
As used herein, the term "organic" in the phase "organic
pollutants" refers to "living organisms" such as
bacteria, and the term "inorganic" in the phrase "inorganic
pollutants" refers to "non-living, organic (carbon) or
inorganic compounds."
In general terms, the present invention contemplates a portable,
refillable water dispenser serving batches of water purified of
organic and inorganic pollutants that includes a portable, refillable
and hand-holdable vessel for holding and pouring water having a
spout and, inside the portable, refillable and hand-holdable vessel,
moving water and still water processing modules cooperative to remove
inorganic and organic pollutants from water received batchwise by
said vessel. The module processing moving water disposed inside
the vessel is adapted to receive water to be processed batchwise,
and is further adapted to cause the water to be processed received
batchwise to move through a flow-through filter to remove inorganic
impurities and then out of said module. The module processing still
water disposed inside the vessel is adapted to receive the water
that flows out said module processing moving water and to contain
it batchwise as a body of still water in fluid communication with
said spout of said vessel, and is further adapted to provide UV
radiation that is omnipresent to every region of each of said body
of still water contained batchwise therein with an intensity and
a duration to neutralize organic impurities at every region of said
body of still water contained batchwise therein. In this manner,
water from which inorganic impurities have been removed and in which
organic impurities have been neutralized may be dispensed through
said spout of said portable, refillable and hand-holdable vessel.
Preferably, the portable, refillable and hand-holdable vessel includes
a pitcher with an open mouth and side and bottom walls that provide
a basin for containing and pouring still water, a handle to one
side of the pitcher, and a lid removably mounted to said open mouth
of said pitcher. The module processing moving water preferably includes
a bucket mounted inside said pitcher with its mouth in fluid communication
with said mouth of said pitcher having an ion exchange and activated
carbon flow-through filter bed that is fed by gravity action with
water to be processed that is poured batchwise into said bucket
all at once. The module processing still water preferably includes
a single UV line radiator upstanding in, and centrally disposed
within, said base of said pitcher and a battery-powered controller
carried by the pitcher that includes a control panel and user interface,
preferably located on its handle, operatively coupled to the single
UV line radiator.
Preferably, the removable lid includes a fill opening, and a louvered
disc valve cooperative therewith to allow water to be poured through
the fill opening batchwise into the bucket of the moving water processing
module while blocking direct viewing of the UV line radiator.
Operation of the presently preferred portable, refillable and hand-holdable
water dispenser serving batches of water purified of organic and
inorganic pollutants is elegantly straightforward. All that is needed
is to pour water to be processed batchwise into the bucket of the
moving water processing module either directly, when the lid is
removed, or through the fill opening, when the lid is attached to
the pitcher, and to start the processing sequence by actuation of
the control panel and user interface. The controller of the still
water processing module waits for a first time to allow the water
to be processed that has been poured batchwise into the bucket to
move through the moving water processing module flow-through filter
to remove inorganic impurities therefrom, then actuates the UV line
radiator for a second time to neutralize organic impurities in the
body of still water contained batchwise in the basin of the still
water processing module, after which time it provides an indication
at the control panel that a batch of water purified of organic and
inorganic pollutants is ready to be dispensed through the spout
of the pitcher.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other objects, inventive aspects and advantageous features
of the present invention will become apparent as the invention becomes
better understood by referring to the following, solely exemplary,
detailed description of the presently preferred embodiment thereof,
and to the drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable, refillable water dispenser
serving batches of water purified of organic and inorganic impurities
in accord with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the midsection
thereof;
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the midsection
of the removable lid of the portable, refillable water dispenser
of FIGS. 1 and 2;
FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the removable lid; and
FIG. 5 is a block circuit diagram of the portable, refillable and
hand-holdable water dispenser serving batches of water purified
of organic and inorganic impurities in accord with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 generally designated at 10 is a
portable, refillable water dispenser serving batches of water purified
of organic and inorganic impurities in accord with the present invention.
The portable, refillable water dispenser 10 includes a portable,
refillable and hand-holdable pitcher 12 for containing, receiving
and pouring water having a handle 14 to one side thereof, a pour
spout 16 and a removable lid 18. Any portable, refillable water
dispenser for receiving, containing and dispensing water such as
a standalone, countertop water purifier, may be employed without
departing from the inventive concepts. A control panel and user-interface
20 to be described is mounted on the handle 14. A flip lid 22 cooperative
with the spout 16 of the pitcher 12 and a fill opening generally
designated 24 and cooperative louvered disc valve to be described
having actuation handle 26 are carried by the removable lid 18.
As best seen in FIG. 2 a bucket generally designated 28 is mounted
inside the pitcher 12 having side and bottom walls 30 32 that bound
a volume whose capacity, when filled, accepts water to be purified
poured batchwise all at once thereinto. A flow-through filter generally
designated 34 is removably mounted in an opening provided therefor
in the bottom wall 32 of the bucket 28 that is fed with water to
be processed received batchwise in the bucket 28 by action of gravity.
Water to be processed received batchwise by the bucket 28 flows
into inlet ports generally designated 36 of flow-through filter
34 though ion exchange and activated carbon filter media, not shown,
contained inside the walls of inner and outer cups 38 40 to remove
inorganic impurities, and one outlet port generally designated 42
at the top and to the side of flow-through filter 34 away from the
spout 16 of the pitcher 12. Reference in this connection may be
had to commonly assigned, co-pending United States utility patent
application entitled "Filter Cartridge for a Standalone Point
of Use Water Purification Device," filed on even date herewith,
incorporated herein by reference. Any suitable moving water processing
module adapted to receive water to be processed batchwise and further
adapted to cause the water be processed received batchwise to move
through a flow-through filter to remove inorganic impurities may
be employed without departing from the inventive concepts, and a
flow-through filter having other than an ion exchange and activated
carbon flow-through filter media such as activated carbon block
media, ceramic media, or semipermeable membranes, may be employed.
The pitcher 12 has side walls 44 and a contained bottom wall 46
that provide a basin in fluid communication with the spout 16 for
receiving, holding and pouring water. The side walls 44 of the pitcher
12 are fashioned of a material that is transparent to ambient light
and opaque to UV light, such as plastic. The capacity of the basin
is at least as great as the capacity of the bucket 28.
A single UV line radiator generally designated 48 is upstanding
in, and centrally positioned within, the basin of the pitcher 12.
The UV line radiator 48 includes a two hundred fifty-four (254)
nm cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) 50 and protective, UV transparent
quartz sheath 52 mounted in water-tight sealing relation to the
bottom wall 46 of the pitcher 12. The UV lamp 50 of the UV line
radiator 48 is operatively connected to a controller to be described
supplied by power from batteries 52 carried in an electronics pack
generally designated 54 attached to the bottom wall 46 of the pitcher
12. The electronics pack 54 is connected to the control panel and
user interface 20 via cable 56 that is threaded through the handle
14 of the pitcher 12.
Water to be processed received batchwise by the bucket 28 of the
moving water processing module is received in the basin of the pitcher
12 as it flows streamwise through the flow-through filter 34 thereof,
which, after all the water of a batch has flowed therethrough, is
contained batchwise as a body of still water in the basin of the
pitcher 12 in fluid communication with the spout 16. The body of
still water contained batchwise in the basin completely submerges
the UV line radiator 48. The CCFL 50 actuated by the controller
in response to user control input to the control panel and user
interface 20 in a manner to be described, provides UV radiation
that is omnipresent to every region of the basin containing the
body of still water received batchwise with an intensity and a duration
to neutralize inorganic impurities at every region of the body of
still water contained batchwise in the basin of the pitcher 12.
The controller thereafter provides a signal indication at the control
panel and user-interface 20 that a batch of water purified of organic
and inorganic pollutants is ready for dispensation through spout
16. Any still water processing module adapted to receive water from
the moving water processing module and contain it batchwise as a
body of still water other than the basin of the pitcher 12 and further
adapted to provide UV radiation that is omnipresent to every region
of the body of still water received batchwise with an intensity
and a duration to neutralize inorganic impurities at every region
of the body of still water contained batchwise other than the battery-powered,
single UV line radiator upstanding in, and centrally disposed within,
the basin of the pitcher may be employed without departing from
the inventive concepts.
Referring now to FIG. 3 generally designated at 60 is a longitudinal
view through the midsection of the removable lid 18 of the portable,
refillable water dispenser serving batches of water purified of
organic and inorganic pollutants in accord with the present invention.
The flip lid 22 is pivotally mounted on an axle 62 best seen in
FIG. 4. The flip lid 22 covers the pour spout 16 of the pitcher
12 while allowing water contained in the basin thereof to be dispensed
therethrough. The bucket 28 includes a front wall 56 that intercepts
the line of sight from the pour spout 16 to prevent direct viewing
of the UV line radiator 48 in the basin of the pitcher 12 as schematically
illustrated by arrow 58 in FIG. 2. A lid seat sensing switch 64
such as a magnetic reed switch, is mounted to the removable lid
18 to disable the UV line radiator 48 in the basin of the pitcher
12 when the removable lid 18 is off of the pitcher 12.
A louvered disc valve generally designated 66 retained by cap 68
on rotary bearing 70 is mounted for rotation to the underside of
the removable lid 18 adjacent the fill opening 24 thereof. The louvered
disc valve 66 includes the actuation handle 26 and as best seen
in FIG. 4 a disc valve 72 and a louver generally designated 74
whose opening generally designated 76 is provided with a series
of slanted, radially spaced fins 78. Water received through fill
opening 24 of the removable lid 18 with the louvered disc valve
66 rotated to its fully opened position illustrated in FIG. 4 by
handle 26 flows through the louver opening 76 into the bucket 28
while the slanted fins 78 thereof block direct viewing of the UV
line radiator 48 within the pitcher 12 as schematically illustrated
by dashed arrow 80 in FIG. 3. As will be appreciated, the slanted
fins 78 of the louvered disc valve 66 block direct viewing of the
UV line radiator 48 inside the pitcher 12 when it is not in any
of its non-fully-closed positions, now shown, which are not further
described herein for the sake of brevity of exposition. Another
mechanism that allows water to be processed to be received batchwise
through the removable lid while blocking direct view of the UV radiator
other than the louvered disc valve 66 may be employed without departing
from the inventive concepts.
Referring now to FIG. 5 generally designated at 90 is a block
circuit diagram of the portable, refillable water dispenser serving
batches of water purified of organic and inorganic pollutants in
accord with the present invention. Controller 92 supplied with
DC power from battery 94 is operatively coupled to UV line radiator
96. A lid seat sensor 98 is electrically connected to the controller
92. A control panel and user interface 100 is electrically connected
to the controller 92. The controller 92 may be powered by AC line
power or a combination of AC and rechargeable DC without departing
from the inventive concepts.
In operation, the controller 92 in response to sequence initiation
input via the control panel and user interface 100 waits a first
time to allow water to be processed received batchwise in the bucket
to move through the moving water processing module and into the
basin of the pitcher where it is contained as a body of still water.
For an exemplary thirty-two (32) ounce capacity bucket, water received
batchwise takes about ten (10) minutes to drip through its flow-through
filter. After the first time lapses, the controller 92 actuates
the UV line radiator 96 to provide UV radiation that is omnipresent
to every region of the body of still water contained in the basin
of the still water processing module with an intensity and a second
time duration to neutralize inorganic impurities at every region
of the body of still water contained in the basin of the still water
processing module. Different second time durations may be selected
for "city" versus water from wells or other sources. For
an exemplary thirty-two (32) ounce capacity basin, five (5) minutes
of irradiation neutralizes organic impurities in "city"
water and ten (10) minutes neutralizes organic impurities in well
water. If at any time during the processing sequence (or at any
other time) a signal is detected from the lid seat sensor 98 the
controller disables the UV line radiator 96 and resets its water
treatment sequence. Otherwise, after the second time has elapsed,
the controller 92 provides a signal indication at the control panel
and user interface 100 such as by illuminating a light or causing
an audio signal to sound, that a batch of water purified of organic
and inorganic pollutants is ready to be served through the spout
of the pitcher. The controller monitors the time since it was last
actuated, and if a predetermined third time elapses, such as twenty-four
(24) hours, since it was last actuated, it provides a signal indication
at the control panel and user interface to retreat the batch of
water.
Many modifications of the presently disclosed intervention will
become apparent to those of skill in the art without departing from
the inventive concepts. |