Patent Application
20220041470
The embodiments generally relate to liquid purifying systems and, more particularly, relate to portable liquid purifying and sanitizing systems incorporated into a portable water container.
Water purification is the process of removing undesired chemicals, biological contaminants, suspended solids, and gases from water, with the goal of producing water suitable for a specific purpose (such as consumption by a human or for medical, industrial, and chemical applications). Water purification methods include processes such as filtration, sedimentation, and distillation, and the use of slow sand filters, activated carbon filters, flocculation, chlorination, ultraviolet (UV) light, and electromagnetic radiation.
UV disinfection has been shown to be effective in sanitizing water. In fact, solar disinfection is used in many developing countries for sanitizing daily drinking water. The UV light acts by inducing the formation of covalent linkages on DNA and thereby preventing microbes from reproducing.
Portable water purification devices are known in the current arts. These devices are self-contained and easily transportable to purify water from untreated sources or to ensure water of unknown origin is sanitized. These devices are often used by inhabitants of developing countries, hikers, backpackers, campers, survivalists, military personnel, and workers operating in the wilderness or other undeveloped areas. Common techniques implemented by these portable systems utilize heat, filtration, activated carbon, chemical disinfection, UV purification, and combinations of the same.
This summary is provided to introduce a variety of concepts in a simplified form that is further disclosed in the detailed description of the embodiments. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended for determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
The embodiments described herein provide a liquid purification system, comprising a reservoir to store a liquid and a purifier, including a plurality of LED's configured to emit ultraviolet light into the reservoir and the liquid therein. A solar cell is positioned on a top of the purifier to provide power to the plurality of LED's via a Lithium Polymer (LiPo) battery. The solar cell may also provide power to an electronic device via a cable extending from the purifier. The system operates using ultraviolet light which inhibits reproduction of microbes, resulting in the liquid being safe for human consumption.
The system may be used in developing nations, during natural disasters, for camping and survival situations, or during other scenarios in which the purification of water is required. The system may be used off-grid by implementing a solar cell to provide power to the LED's while operating as a charger for electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, external power supplies, and the like.
In one aspect, the purifier comprises a housing to contain a plurality of electrical components therein.
In one aspect, plurality of electrical components includes a PCB.
In one aspect, the housing is comprised of a sidewall extending between the top and a bottom.
In one aspect, the system includes a tapered portion extending between the sidewall and the bottom.
In one aspect, the tapered portion or the sidewall comprises at least one button. The button provides a means for selecting operational functions of the LED's.
In one aspect, the operations functions include at least one of the following: an ON function, and a timer function.
In one aspect, a cable is in electrical communication with a battery which is in electrical communication with the solar cell.
A complete understanding of the present embodiments and the advantages and features thereof will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
The specific details of the single embodiment or variety of embodiments described herein are to the described apparatus. Any specific details of the embodiments are used for demonstration purposes only, and no unnecessary limitations or inferences are to be understood therefrom.
Before describing in detail exemplary embodiments, it is noted that the embodiments reside primarily in combinations of components and procedures related to the apparatus. Accordingly, the apparatus components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.
The specific details of the single embodiment or variety of embodiments described herein are set forth in this application. Any specific details of the embodiments are used for demonstration purposes only, and no unnecessary limitation or inferences are to be understood therefrom. Furthermore, as used herein, relational terms, such as “first” and “second,” “top” and “bottom,” and the like, may be used solely to distinguish one entity or element from another entity or element without necessarily requiring or implying any physical or logical relationship, or order between such entities or elements.
In general, the embodiments provided herein relate to a water purification and sanitation system (herein after “system” or “the system”) which utilizes UV-C light to purify water within a reservoir. The system includes a purifier which releasably engages with the reservoir to provide the UV-C light via an LED light system. The system includes a power source to operate the UV-C light system as well as operate a charging port allowing users to charge an electronic device such as a cellphone, tablet, laptop, external battery, or other electronic devices.
As used herein, the term “reservoir” may relate to any container used for the storage and transportation of liquid including bottles made of plastics, metals, and other materials known in the arts. It is a goal of the system to be capable of interfacing with various containers such as cans and the like. In such, the system may be readily deployable on various containers and does not need to be used with any single container type. For example, the same system may be used on an aluminum can while later being used with a plastic bottle.
The purifier 102 may form a substantially watertight seal with the reservoir such that the system 100 may optionally be used as a lid for the reservoir.
The LED's may be configured to emit light in an spectrum to provide sufficient purification/sanitation to the water in the reservoir 104. One skilled in the arts will readily understand that specific spectrums of UV-C light may be best suited for specific liquid compositions and volumes as well as reservoir sizes, materials, shapes, etc.
In some embodiments, the LED's may be provided on a probe which extends downward into the opening of the reservoir 104 and may be partially submerged into the liquid therein.
In some embodiments, LED's may be positioned on the bottom surface of the purifier 102 to emit light downward into the reservoir 104 and liquid therein.
In some embodiments, a plurality of buttons 210 may be provided in an array to provide the user with various functional settings options. For example, the user may utilize one or more buttons 210 to set a time for the purifier to operate the LED's 202. The system 100 may utilize a purification/sanitation protocol, such as emitting UV-C light at a predetermined intensity and light spectrum for a period of time known to purify a volume of water. One skilled in the arts will readily understand that various sizes and configurations of reservoirs 104 may be used. In some embodiments, the cable may be disconnected from the purifier, as shown in
Many different embodiments have been disclosed herein, in connection with the above description and the drawings. It will be understood that it would be unduly repetitious and obfuscating to describe and illustrate every combination and subcombination of these embodiments. Accordingly, all embodiments can be combined in any way and/or combination, and the present specification, including the drawings, shall be construed to constitute a complete written description of all combinations and subcombinations of the embodiments described herein, and of the manner and process of making and using them, and shall support claims to any such combination or subcombination.
An equivalent substitution of two or more elements can be made for any one of the elements in the claims below or that a single element can be substituted for two or more elements in a claim. Although elements can be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, it is to be expressly understood that one or more elements from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination and that the claimed combination can be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present embodiment is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the following claims.
