Patent Grant
10676260
Fluid containers carry fluids that may be unsafe for consumption. To make the fluids safe, a filtration device is utilized. Some fluid filters are designed as part of the fluid container and utilize human power to push the fluid through the filter. Conventional fluid filter containers may utilize a body part other than the hands or utilize the hands inefficiently by being operated with small muscle groups, such as squeezing with the hand muscles or drawing suction with the mouth muscles. Utilizing these small muscle groups is awkward, tiring, and results in increased time and energy to filter the fluid. Thus, a design is needed to minimize the strain to these small muscle groups, while maximizing the force to filter the fluid.
The present fluid filter container utilizes a lid with multiple curved surfaces to “fit” the hands of a user, which allows a user to use mechanical advantage (e.g., body weight) instead of small muscles while reducing the strain placed on the hands of the user when delivering the force to filter the fluid. The cap of the lid may have multiple states of coupling that allow the cap to be sealed or unsealed to allow air to escape via a vent to further enhance filtration of the fluid.
To easily identify the discussion of any particular element or act, the most significant digit or digits in a reference number refer to the figure number in which that element is first introduced.
Referring to
The top wall 102 is joined to a side wall (depicted in
The cap-mounting portion 108 is joined to the top wall 102 and is configured to be coupled to the cap 112. The cap-mounting portion 108 may be made of the same material as the top wall 102. The cap-mounting portion 108 comprises the second concave surfaces 110. The second concave surfaces 110 have a concave shape to receive an object(s) (e.g., human hands/thumbs) that contacts the filtration container lid 100 to provide the force to operate the filtration container assembly to which the filtration container lid 100 may be coupled. An exemplary filtration container assembly (i.e., filtration container assembly 600) is depicted in
The cap 112 is coupled to the cap-mounting portion 108 and the leash 114. The cap 112 may be made of the same material as the top wall 102. The cap 112 may comprise a thermoplastic elastomer. The cap 112 may have a threaded portion that couples to the cap-mounting portion 108. The cap state indicator 120 of the cap 112 may be aligned by rotating the cap 112 (e.g., utilizing a threaded fastening with the cap-mounting portion 108) with the sealed mechanical state indicator 122 and the venting mechanical state indicator 124. When the cap state indicator 120 is aligned with the sealed mechanical state indicator 122, the cap 112 is in the sealed mechanical state. In this state, the annular threaded component of the cap-mounting portion 108 is engaged with the opposing threaded portion of the cap 112. When the cap state indicator 120 is aligned with the venting mechanical state indicator 124, the cap 112 lifts off the seal and a thread gap is formed between the annular threaded component of the cap-mounting portion 108 and the threaded portion of the cap 112. Thus, the cap 112 may operate as a vent during the filtration process while additionally precluding cross-contamination of the drinking surface located beneath the cap 112. The cap 112 may also comprise a slot or groove by which to engage the leash 114, including the leash ring 126. The depth of the groove and the diameter of the cap 112 near the groove may enable a secure fit to the leash ring 126. The cap 112 may also be disengage from the cap-mounting portion 108, exposing the spout of the cap-mounting portion 108, to enable fluid to flow through the spout.
The leash 114 is coupled to the cap 112 and a side wall (depicted in
Referring to
Referring to
The top wall 102, the cap-mounting portion 108, the cap 112, and the leash 114 are described in
The filtration container assembly attachment 302 is joined to the side wall 304 and may be configured to secure to a filtration container assembly (e.g., the filtration container assembly 600). The filtration container assembly attachment 302 may be a set of one or more threads to couple to the filtration container assembly by rotating the filtration container lid 100 with respect to the filtration container assembly.
The side wall 304 is joined to the filtration container assembly attachment 302 and the top wall 102, and coupled to the leash 114. The side wall 304 may be annular-shaped having an outer surface (shown in
The first concave surface 306 may define a surface of the top wall 102. The first concave surface 306 may be parallel to a plane defined by the filtration container assembly attachment 302 in portions (i.e., 0 degrees with respect to the filtration container assembly attachment 302). In some embodiment, the parallel portions are located on the part of the filtration container lid 100 near the leash 114. The angle of the first concave surface 306 with respect to the filtration container assembly attachment 302 may altered to have an increase angle from the end of the filtration container lid 100 near the leash 114 to the end of the filtration container lid 100 furthest from the leash 114. The maximum slope and the rate of change of the slope may be altered to configure the top wall 102 to receive an object(s) (e.g., human hands/thumbs) that contacts the filtration container lid 100 to provide the force to operate the filtration container assembly (e.g., the filtration container assembly 600) to which the filtration container lid 100 may be coupled.
The anterior portion 310 of the top wall 102 is located at the end of the top wall 102 that the cap 112 and the leash 114 secure to the cap-mounting portion 108 and the side wall 304, respectively. The anterior portion 310 is parallel to the bottom surface 314 of the top wall 102, as well as to the filtration container assembly attachment 302 and the edge of the side wall 304 oriented away from the top wall 102.
The posterior portion 312 of the top wall 102 is located at the end of the top wall 102 that is opposite to the cap 112 and the leash 114 securing to the cap-mounting portion 108 and the side wall 304, respectively. The posterior portion 312 may form one or more first angles with the bottom surface 314 of the top wall 102, as well as to the filtration container assembly attachment 302 and the edge of the side wall 304 oriented away from the top wall 102. The one or more first angles may increase in magnitude with respect to the bottom surface 314 from the end of the posterior portion 312 adjacent to the anterior portion 310 to the end opposite from the anterior portion 310. The posterior portion 312 may extend in the posterior direction beyond where the cap-mounting portion 108 and the top wall 102 intersect. The extension may provide a greater surface area for the application of the filtering force and may extend the length of the top wall 102 to receive more of the hands of the user. In addition, the posterior portion 312 may include a void space posterior to the intersection of the cap-mounting portion 108 and the top wall 102 to form a handle that provides a mechanism to grip, carry, attach to other object (such as carabiners), etc.
Referring to
The spout 402 extends from the cap-mounting portion to the edge 408. The spout threads 404 engage the threaded portion of the cap 112. When the cap 112 is place in the venting mechanical state, the spout threads 404 form a thread gap with the threaded portion of the cap 112. This thread gap enables air to vent from the spout. The force to filter is reduce due to the spout channel 406. The spout channel 406 helps air to flow from the spout 402, between the cap 112 and the spout 402, and out through the disengaged threads. The spout channel 406 may have a diameter less than the diameter of the other portions of the spout 402. The spout 402 may taper to the diameter of the spout channel 406 forming a curved surface for the spout channel 406. The spout channel 406 may be located on the spout 402 between the cap-mounting portion and the edge 408. In some embodiments, the spout channel 406 is located closer to the edge 408 than to the cap-mounting portion.
Referring to
The second concave surfaces 110 and the first concave surface 306 are described in
The concave transition surface 502 may join the first concave surface 306 to the second concave surfaces 110. A concave transition surface 502 may be located on both the first side and the second side of the top wall. The concave transition surface 502 may alter the angle of the slope of each of the first concave surface 306 and the second concave surfaces 110 to form a transition that flows between the two concave surfaces to create a receiving surface that is a continuously concave surface to enhance the receptability of an object(s) (e.g., human hands/thumbs) to contact the filtration container lid 100 to provide the force to operate the filtration container assembly (e.g., the filtration container assembly 600) to which the filtration container lid 100 may be coupled.
Referring to
When the outer container 602 is at least partially filled with liquid, the user can exert pressure on the inner sleeve 606 to nest the plunging assembly 604 within the outer container 602, thereby using positive pressure to displace the liquid in the outer container 602 through the filtration assembly 608 into the inner sleeve 606.
Although shown and described as a personal water filtration container assembly, it should be appreciated that other embodiments are within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, an assembly within the scope of the present disclosure may be configured as a large container, such as a jug, cooler, barrel, or tank, or as a smaller container, such as a bottle or sippy cup. It should be appreciated that larger form factors may use a crank or even an electric motor to achieve the positive pressure value to perform filtration. Moreover, coffee or tea presses having an inner sleeve and outer container, but which include screen or sieve filters instead of particulate and microbial filters, are within the scope of the present disclosure. In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, suitable filters for use in the container assembly, include, but are not limited to screens, sieve fillers, granular-activated carbon filters, metallic alloy filters, microporous ceramic filters, a carbon block resin filters, electrostatic nanofiber filters, reverse osmosis filters, ion exchange filters, UV light filters, hollow fiber membrane filters, and ultra-filtration membrane filters. Any directional references in the present application, such as “up”, “down”, “top”, “bottom”, etc., are intended to describe the embodiments of the present disclosure with reference to the orientations provided in the figures and are not intended to be limiting.
The outer container 602 is a substantially cylindrical cup having a wall 612 extending between a first open end 614 and a second closed end 616 and defining an inner cavity 618. The term “substantially” is used herein to include standard engineering and/or manufacturing tolerances. Although shown in the illustrated embodiment as having a substantially cylindrical wall 612 on both inner and outer surfaces, it should be appreciated that other cross-sectional shapes are also within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the outer container 602 may have a substantially cylindrical inner cavity 618, but a non-cylindrical outer surface. As described in greater detail below, a substantially cylindrical inner cavity 618 is designed and configured to mate with one embodiment of the filtration assembly 608 described herein.
At the first open end 614, the outer container 602 includes optional notches 620 along the top perimeter of the outer wall 612. Near the first open end 614, the outer container 602 further includes an internal annular groove 622 on the inner surface of the wall 612. It should be appreciated that the annular groove 622 may also be positioned on the outer surface of the wall 612. Both the notches 620 and the annular groove 622 are designed and configured for assisting in the interface between the outer container 602 and the plunging assembly 604, as described in greater detail below.
The outer container 602 is configured to receive liquid, for example, unpurified or unfiltered tap or water from a natural, untreated source. In that regard, when in use, the outer container 602 may be filled or at least partially filled with liquid.
The plunging assembly 604 will now be described. As mentioned above, the plunging assembly 604 includes the inner sleeve 606 and the filtration assembly 608, both of which are designed to be received within the inner cavity 618 of the outer container 602. In the illustrated embodiment, the inner sleeve 606 has a wall 624 extending between a first open end 626 and a second open end 628 and defining an inner bore 630. Therefore, the inner sleeve 606 has a continuous sidewall to prevent the migration of contaminants into the filtered liquid that is stored in the inner sleeve 606.
The inner sleeve 606 is configured to move like a piston relative to outer container 602, and therefore, is designed to be received within the outer container 602. Although not required, the inner sleeve 606 may have a substantially consistent cross-sectional area and/or shape along the length of inner sleeve 606. Although shown as a substantially cylindrical outer container 602, it should be appreciated that the outer container 602 may be configured to have any cross-sectional shape, so long as the inner cavity 618 of the outer container 602 and the outer wall 624 of the inner sleeve 606 are capable of nesting together. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the inner sleeve 606 when nested is wholly contained within the inner cavity 618 of the outer container 602. In the illustrated embodiment, the inner cavity 618 of the outer container 602 is substantially cylindrical, and the plunging end 632 of the plunging assembly 604 is configured to form a seal with inner cavity 618 through the piston movement of the plunging assembly 604.
The inner sleeve 606 includes various features for interfacing with other parts of the filtration container assembly 600. For example, optional guides 634 positioned on the outer surface of wall 624 of the inner sleeve 606 allow for a guided, but spaced fit between the inner sleeve 606 and the outer container 602. Alternatively, a spacer, for example, made of plastic silicon, or rubber, which may be a seal, gasket, roller, or any other suitable spacer, may be used in place of guides 634. A plurality of depressions on the outer surface of wall 624 near the first open end 626 of the inner sleeve 606 allow for a secure fit between the body of the inner sleeve 606 and the collar assembly 636, as described in greater detail below. Moreover, on the inner surface of the inner bore 630, the inner sleeve 606 includes a plurality of extensions 640 for interfacing with the lid assembly 610.
At the first open end 626, the inner sleeve 606 is designed and configured to interface with the first open end 614 of the outer container. In that regard, the inner sleeve 606 may include an annular rim 638 and a collar assembly 636 for interfacing with the first open end 614 of the outer container 602. When the inner sleeve 606 and the outer container 602 are coupled together, the collar assembly 636 assists in maintaining the coupling between the inner sleeve 606 and the outer container 602 and prevents decoupling. In the illustrated embodiment, this coupling is maintained by interference fit; however, it should be appreciated that threaded attachment and other coupling attachments besides interference fit are also within the scope of the present disclosure.
The annular rim 638 hangs over the wall 624 of the inner sleeve 606, creating a space beneath the annular rim 638. In the illustrated embodiment, collar assembly 636 includes a seal and a collar that are configured to nest with one another inside at least a portion of the space and extend from the space adjacent the annular rim 638. In that regard, the seal may be made from a flexible material capable of compression, such as silicon or rubber. The collar may be more rigid, for example, manufactured as an injected molded plastic part. The jogged shape of the collar, as described in greater detail below, allows for ease of assembly with the seal. The seal includes an annular body having a first end and a second end. At the first end, the seal includes first and second interface areas and for receiving and mating with first and second locking portions of the collar. Moreover, the first end of the seal is configured to be received within the space beneath the annular rim 638. At the second end, the seal includes a seal ridge configured to be received within the outer container and to form a seal therewith. It should be appreciated, however, that the outer container 602 and the inner sleeve 606 may be mated together without a locking mechanism, for example, using a plug seal fit (for example, similar to a wine cork fit), a magnetic attachment, a latch, or any other suitable mating mechanism.
As mentioned above, the collar includes first and second locking portions. These locking portions are coupled to connecting portions to form a collar structure. To maintain positioning relative to the inner sleeve 606, the collar includes a plurality of inner extensions that are configured to engage with the plurality of depressions in the outer wall 624 of the inner sleeve 606. (Of note, the plurality of depressions are formed by punching the plurality of extensions 640 into the wall 624 of the inner sleeve 606.) The locking portions each include a respective tab 642 that is configured to mate with each of the notches 620 in the first open end 614 of the outer container 602.
At the second open end 628 of the inner sleeve 606, the inner sleeve 606 is configured to couple with the filtration assembly 608. In the illustrated embodiment, the second open end 628 of the inner sleeve 606 includes threads 644 for a screw fit interface with opposite threads 646 on the outer perimeter of the filtration assembly 608. Although shown as a screw fit interface between the second open end 628 of the inner sleeve and the filtration assembly 608, it should be appreciated that other interfaces, such as an interference fit interface, are also within the scope of the present disclosure.
Referring to
The first concave surface 306 is described in
The first angle 704 may be defined by a line normal to the anterior end 706 and a line extending from the anterior end 706 to the first midpoint 708. The anterior end 706 is the portion of the perimeter 702 of the first concave surface 306 located nearest to the leash 114. The first midpoint 708 is the portion of the perimeter 702 that transitions from the first angle 704 to the second angle 710. The transition may be tapered. The second angle 710 may be defined by a line normal to the first posterior end 712 and a line extending from the first posterior end 712 to the first midpoint 708. The first posterior end 712 is the portion of the perimeter 702 of the first concave surface 306 located furthest from the leash 114. In some embodiments, the distance along the perimeter 702 from the first posterior end 712 to the first midpoint 708 (i.e., the first distance) is 1 to 3 times the distance along the perimeter 702 from the anterior end 706 to the first midpoint 708 (i.e., the second distance).
Referring to
The cap-mounting portion 108 is described in
The third angle 802 may be defined by a line normal to the anterior end 804 and a line extending from the anterior end 804 to the second midpoint 806. The anterior end 804 is the portion of the cap-mounting portion 108 located nearest to the leash 114. The second midpoint 806 is the portion of the cap-mounting portion 108 that transitions from the third angle 802 to the fourth angle 810. The transition may be tapered. The fourth angle 810 may be defined by a line normal to the second posterior end 808 and a line extending from the second posterior end 808 to the second midpoint 806. The second posterior end 808 is the portion of the cap-mounting portion 108 located furthest from the leash 114. In some embodiments, the distance from the anterior end 804 to the second midpoint 806 (i.e., the third distance) is 1 to 3 times the distance from the second posterior end 808 to the second midpoint 806 (i.e., the fourth distance). The transition from the second posterior end 808 to the cap-mounting portion 108 may be rounded to inhibit the abrasive effect of a non-rounded edge on skin. The rounding of the second posterior end 808 to cap-mounting portion 108 transition may result in the fourth angle being defined by a line extending to the second midpoint 806 from a point in the now voided space (due to the rounded edge) instead of the second posterior end 808 itself.
“midpoint” in this context refers to a point somewhere in the middle, which may or may not be the exact middle point.
“distance” in this context refers to length of the shortest path between two points while remaining on some surface.
“cap” in this context refers to a protective lid or cover for an object, such as a bottle.
“concave surface” in this context refers to a surface that is curved in or hollowed inward, as opposed to convex.
“leash” in this context refers to a strap or cord that may be utilized for restraining.
“wall” in this context refers to a three-dimensional structure having one or more surfaces.
“fluid” in this context refers to a substance that has no fixed shape and yields easily to external pressure; e.g., a gas or (especially) a liquid.
This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119 to U.S. application Ser. No. 62/582,054 entitled “Ergonomic Cap for Filtration”, filed on Nov. 6, 2017, and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
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| 20190135506 A1 | May 2019 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62582054 | Nov 2017 | US |
