Claims
- 1. A water filter device for treating untreated drinking water, said water filter device comprising:
(a) a connector for providing fluid communication between said water filter device and an untreated drinking water source; (b) a low-pressure water filter in fluid communication with said connector, said low-pressure water filter for treating untreated drinking water, said water filter comprising a water filter material, said water filter comprising a F-BLR of greater than about 2 logs; (c) a storage housing in fluid communication with said low-pressure water filter, said storage housing for storing treated drinking water treated by said water filter; (d) an automatic shutoff valve in fluid communication with said storage housing, said automatic shutoff valve for arresting the flow of treated drinking water into said storage housing; and (e) a dispenser in fluid communication with said storage housing, said dispenser for dispensing treated drinking water from said storage housing; wherein the treated drinking enters into said storage housing at the rate of at least about 5 mL/min but not greater than about 2,000 mL/min until activating said automatic shutoff valve, such that the flow of treated drinking water into said storage housing is arrested, and wherein said water filter device is a non-electric water filter device.
- 2. The water filter device of claim 1, wherein said water filter material comprises mesoporous activated carbon filter particles.
- 3. The water filter device of claim 1, wherein said water filter material comprises mesoporous and basic activated carbon particles.
- 4. The water filter device of claim 1, wherein said water filter material comprises mesoporous, basic, and reduced-oxygen activated carbon particles.
- 5. The water filter device of claim 1, wherein said water filter comprises a F-VLR of greater than about 1 log.
- 6. The water filter device of claim 1, wherein said water filter comprises a F-BLR of greater than about 3 logs and a F-VLR of greater than about 2 logs;
- 7. The water filter device of claim 1, wherein said water filter comprises a F-BLR of greater than about 4 logs and a F-VLR of greater than about 3 logs;
- 8. The water filter device of claim 1, wherein said automatic shutoff valve comprises a float.
- 9. The water filter device of claim 1, wherein said water filter device further comprises a flow regulator, wherein said flow regulator regulates the flow of the untreated drinking water such that the average fluid contact time is greater than about 2 seconds up to about 120 psi.
- 10. The water filter device of claim 1, wherein said water filter device further comprises a flow regulator, wherein said flow regulator regulates the flow of the untreated drinking water such that the average fluid contact time is greater than about 4 seconds up to about 120 psi.
- 11. The water filter device of claim 1, wherein said water filter device further comprises a threadably attachable filter vessel for containing said water filter, wherein said filter vessel may be opened with from about 5 inch-lbs to about 100 inch-lbs of torque.
- 12. The water filter device of claim 1, wherein said water filter device further comprises a filter vessel for containing said water filter, wherein at least a portion of said filter vessel is oriented on a front or side portion of said water filter device.
- 13. The water filter device of claim 1, wherein said water filter device further comprises a filter vessel for containing said water filter, wherein the height of said filter vessel is less than about 75% the height of the water filter device.
- 14. The water filter device of claim 1, wherein said storage housing may be separably removed from said water filter device.
- 15. The water filter device of claim 1, wherein said storage housing comprises a window for viewing the volume of treated drinking water contained within said storage housing.
- 16. The water filter device of claim 1, wherein said water filter device further comprises a means of indicating the life of the water filter.
- 17. The water filter device of claim 1, wherein said water filter further comprises a pre-filter, wherein said pre-filter is selected from the group consisting of melt-blown polypropylene, non-woven polymer, micro-glass fiber, and non-woven cellulose filter material.
- 18. The water filter device of claim 1, wherein said storage housing has an interior volume from about 500 mL to about 2,000 mL.
- 19. A water filter device for treating untreated drinking water, said water filter device comprising:
(a) a connector for providing fluid communication between said water filter device and an untreated drinking water source; (b) a low-pressure water filter in fluid communication with said connector, said low-pressure water filter for treating untreated drinking water, said water filter comprising a water filter material, said water filter comprising a F-BLR of greater than about 2 logs and a F-VLR of greater than about 1 log; (c) a filter vessel in fluid communication with said connector, said filter vessel for containing said water filter; (d) a storage housing in fluid communication with said low-pressure water filter, said storage housing for storing treated drinking water treated by said water filter; (e) an automatic shutoff valve in fluid communication with said storage housing, said automatic shutoff valve for arresting the flow of treated drinking water into said storage housing; and (f) a dispenser in fluid communication with said storage housing, said dispenser for dispensing treated drinking water from said storage housing; wherein the treated drinking water enters into said storage housing at the rate of at least about 5 mL/min but not greater than about 2,000 mL/min until activating said automatic shutoff valve, such that the flow of treated drinking water into said storage housing is arrested, and wherein approximately 100% of the untreated drinking water that enters said water filter device via said connector is treated by said water filter, wherein said water filter device is a non-electric water filter device, and wherein at least a portion of said filter vessel releasably attaches to a front or side portion of said water filter device.
- 20. The water filter device of claim 19, wherein said water filter material is mesoporous and basic activated carbon particles.
- 21. The water filter device of claim 19, wherein said water filter comprises a F-BLR of greater than about 3 logs and a F-VLR of greater than about 2 logs;
- 22. The water filter device of claim 19, wherein said water filter comprises a F-BLR of greater than about 6 logs and a F-VLR of greater than about 4 logs;
- 23. The water filter device of claim 19, wherein the untreated drinking water radially enters and radially flows through said water filter material.
- 24. The water filter device of claim 19, wherein said water filter device further comprises a flow regulator, wherein said flow regulator regulates the flow of the untreated drinking water such that the average fluid contact time is greater than about 2 seconds up to about 120 psi.
- 25. The water filter device of claim 19, wherein said filter vessel may be opened with from about 5 inch-lbs to about 100 inch-lbs of torque.
- 26. The water filter device of claim 19, wherein said storage housing may be separably removed from said water filter device.
- 27. The water filter device of claim 19, wherein said water filter further comprises a pre-filter, and said pre-filter is selected from the group consisting of melt-blown polypropylene, non-woven polymer, micro-glass fiber, and non-woven cellulose filter material.
- 28. The water filter device of claim 19, wherein said filter vessel may be released from said water filter device using a button.
- 29. A water filter device for treating untreated drinking water, said water filter device comprising:
(a) a connector for providing fluid communication between said water filter device and an untreated drinking water source; (b) a low-pressure water filter in fluid communication with said connector, said low-pressure water filter for treating untreated drinking water, said water filter comprising a water filter material, said water filter comprising a F-BLR of greater than about 2 logs and a F-VLR of greater than about 1 log; (c) a filter vessel in fluid communication with said connector, said filter vessel for containing said water filter; (d) a flow regulator in fluid communication with said low-pressure water filter, said flow regulator for controlling the flow of drinking water through the water filter device; and (e) a storage housing in fluid communication with said low-pressure water filter, said storage housing for storing treated drinking water treated by said water filter; (f) an automatic shutoff valve in fluid communication with said storage housing, said automatic shutoff valve for arresting the flow of treated drinking water into said storage housing; and (g) a dispenser in fluid communication with said storage housing, said dispenser for dispensing treated drinking water from said storage housing; wherein the treated drinking water enters into said storage housing at the rate of at least about 5 mL/min but not greater than about 2,000 mL/min until activating said automatic shutoff valve which is in fluid communication with said storage housing, such that the flow of treated drinking water into said storage housing is arrested, wherein said water filter device is a non-electric water filter device, and wherein at least a portion of said filter vessel releasably attaches to a front or side portion of said water filter device, wherein said flow regulator regulates the flow of the untreated drinking water such that the average fluid contact time is greater than about 2 seconds up to about 120 psi.
- 30. The water filter device of claim 29, wherein said water filter material is mesoporous and basic activated carbon particles.
- 31. The water filter device of claim 29, wherein said water filter comprises a F-BLR of greater than about 3 logs and a F-VLR of greater than about 2 logs;
- 32. The water filter device of claim 29, wherein said water filter device further comprises a wall-mount bracket for mounting said water filter device.
- 33. The water filter device of claim 29, wherein said filter vessel may be opened with from about 5 inch-lbs to about 100 inch-lbs of torque.
- 34. The water filter device of claim 29, wherein the untreated drinking water radially enters and radially flows through said water filter material.
- 35. The water filter device of claim 29, wherein said storage housing may be separably removed from said water filter device.
- 36. The water filter device of claim 29, wherein said water filter further comprises a pre-filter, and said pre-filter is selected from the group consisting of melt-blown polypropylene, non-woven polymer, micro-glass fiber, and non-woven cellulose filter material.
- 37. A method of treating low-pressure untreated drinking water, said method comprising:
(a) providing a low-pressure water filter device comprising a connector for connecting to an untreated drinking water source, a low-pressure water filter comprising mesoporous activated carbon particles, and a storage housing; (b) running low-pressure untreated drinking water from a source of low-pressure untreated drinking water through said low-pressure water filter, said low-pressure untreated drinking water comprising viruses and bacteria, such that the average fluid contact time is greater than about 2 seconds, said water filter comprising a F-BLR of greater than about 2 logs and a F-VLR of greater than about 1 log; and (c) filling a storage housing with treated drinking water at greater than about 5 mL/min.
- 38. The method of claim 37, wherein said low-pressure water filter comprises mesoporous and basic activated carbon particles.
- 39. The method of claim 37, wherein said low-pressure untreated drinking water comprises 1×106 viruses per liter, and 1×107 bacteria per liter.
- 40. The method of claim 37, wherein said low-pressure untreated drinking water comprises 1×107 viruses per liter, and 1×108 bacteria per liter.
- 41. The method of claim 37, wherein said low-pressure water filter device further comprises a filter vessel and a shutoff valve comprising a float.
- 42. The water filter device of claim 37, wherein said water filter comprises a F-BLR of greater than about 3 logs and a F-VLR of greater than about 2 logs;
- 43. The water filter device of claim 37, wherein said water filter further comprises a pre-filter, and said pre-filter is selected from the group consisting of melt-blown polypropylene, non-woven polymer, micro-glass fiber, and non-woven cellulose filter material.
- 44. A method of incorporating a modular water filter device for treating untreated drinking water, said method comprising:
(a) providing a modular water filter device unit comprising:
(i) a low-pressure water filter for treating untreated drinking water, said water filter comprising a water filter material; and (ii) an automatic shutoff valve for arresting the flow of treated drinking water; and (b) incorporating said modular water filter device into a storage housing, said storage housing for storing treated drinking water; wherein said modular water device unit is a non-electric water filter device.
- 45. The water filter device of claim 44, wherein said water filter material comprises mesoporous and basic activated carbon particles.
- 46. The method of claim 44, wherein said water filter comprises a F-BLR of greater than about 2 logs and a F-VLR of greater than about 1 log;
- 47. The method of claim 44, wherein said water filter comprises a F-BLR of greater than about 3 logs and a F-VLR of greater than about 2 log;
- 48. The water filter device of claim 44, wherein said water filter comprises a F-BLR of greater than about 6 logs and a F-VLR of greater than about 4 logs;
- 49. The method of claim 44, wherein said automatic shutoff valve comprises a float.
- 50. The method of claim 44, wherein said water filter device further comprises a flow regulator, wherein said flow regulator regulates the flow of the untreated drinking water such that the average fluid contact time is greater than about 3 seconds up to about 120 psi.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 120, this application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/464,209, filed on Jun. 18, 2003. U.S. application Ser. No. 10/464,209 is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/935,962, filed on Aug. 23, 2001 and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/935,810, filed on Aug. 23, 2001. Additionally, U.S. application Ser. No. 10/464,209 is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/US03/05416 designating the U.S., filed Feb. 21, 2003, and is also a continuation of International Application No. PCT/US03/05409 designating the U.S., filed Feb. 21, 2003, Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 120, this application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/464,210, filed on Jun. 18, 2003. U.S. application Ser. No. 10/464,210 is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/935,962, filed on Aug. 23, 2001 and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/935,810, filed on Aug. 23, 2001. Additionally, U.S. application Ser. No. 10/464,210 is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/US03/05416 designating the U.S., filed Feb. 21, 2003, and is also a continuation of International Application No. PCT/US03/05409 designating the U.S., filed Feb. 21, 2003.
[0002] Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 120, this application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/935,962, filed on Aug. 23, 2001 and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/935,810, filed on Aug. 23, 2001.
[0003] Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 120, this application is a continuation-in-part of International Application No. PCT/US03/05416 designating the U.S., filed Feb. 21, 2003, and is also a continuation-in-part of Internatonal Application No. PCT/US03/05409 designating the U.S., filed Feb. 21, 2003.
[0004] The substances of these priority references are incorporated herein by reference.
Continuations (4)
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