Patent EP0402661A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0402661A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Portable water purification devices using low density activated carbon
Assignee: Innova Pure Water Inc
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Filing: 1990-05-19
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-05-19
Abstract
Abstract In order to provide high fill and pour rates, while still providing effective treatment of water to remove pollutants from it (such as organic contaminants, protozoa, etc.), a water pollutant removal material (14) is disposed in a low volume configuration within a container (10), having a void volume of about 40-90% (e.g. 60-90%). The water pollutant removal material may be activatad carbon loaded on a non-woven cloth (15), loose fiber or chip, paper, foam, felt or like fibrous low density material. The activated carbon impregnated materials may be placed in the container, (e.g. by rolling up an impregnated sheet into a spiral roll (16)) and may be disposed within a retention filter (20) which is spaced from the interior walls of the container. Biocide material (e.g. an iodine compound) may be used in addition to or in place of activated carbon, in a low volume configuration.
Inventors
- 👤 Dirk Pouli
- 👤 Bradley D. Mierau
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 06:27
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F1/00; C02F1/001; C02F1/003; C02F1/28; C02F1/283; C02F2307/00; C02F2307/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
A container (10) for purifying water comprising: a body (11) having a hollow interior (12) of a given effective volume; and an inlet (24) to said hollow interior and an outlet (25) therefrom; characterized by a water pollutant removal containing material (14) in a low volume configuration substantially evenly distributed in said effective volume and having a void volume of about 40-90%, so as to achieve long residence times of water in contact with said pollutant removal material, while providing high fill rates and high pour rates for the container.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
90 words
A container (10) for purifying water comprising: a body (11) having a hollow interior (12) of a given effective volume; and an inlet (24) to said hollow interior and an outlet (25) therefrom; characterized by a water pollutant removal containing material (14) in a low volume configuration substantially evenly distributed in said effective volume and having a void volume of about 40-90%, so as to achieve long residence times of water in contact with said pollutant removal material, while providing high fill rates and high pour rates for the container.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A container as recited in claim 1 further characterized in that said water pollutant removal material (14) is in a configuration selected from the group consisting essentially of material impregnated fibers, non-wovens, wovens, papers, felts, and foams.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
A container as recited in claim 1 further characterized in that said water pollutant removal material comprises fibers including activated carbon material in a spiral roll (16) configuration, portions thereof being within the majority of the effective volume of said body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A container as recited in claim 1 further characterized in that said material is contained within a retention filter (20) within said hollow interior.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
A container as recited in claim 4 further characterized by said retention filter is spaced from the interior walls of said body by spacing means (19), so as to define a passageway (21) between said interior walls and one of said inlet and said outlet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
A container as recited in claim 5 further characterized in that said retention filter is porous only at the bottom thereof and has an inlet at the top thereof, being non-porous at most of the rest of the portions thereof so as to require water being treated to flow from the inlet through the bottom thereof to escape said container.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
A container as recited in claim 1, wherein said water pollutant removal material comprises a first material, and further characterized by a second water pollutant removal material (48) disposed within said hollow interior, said second material cooperating with said first material to remove different types of pollutants from the water.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
A container as recited in claim 1 further characterized in that said water pollutant removal containing material comprises a non-woven cloth (15) impregnated with activated carbon and binder, said cloth having a thickness of at least about one-eighth inch, a weight of at least about three ounces per square yard, and at least 100% add on of activated carbon and binder combined.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of purifying tap water utilizing a container (10) including a water pollutant removal material (14) in a low volume configuration, by practicing the steps of: (a) filling the container with water directly from a non-pressurized tap at a rate of at least about one half gallon per minute; and (b) pouring purified water from the container at a pour rate of at least about one half gallon per minute; characterized by the step, between steps (a) and (b) of (c) maintaining the tap water in the container at least about 30 seconds, in contact with the material, to effect removal of contaminants therefrom.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of purifying tap water utilizing a container (10) including a water pollutant removal material (14) in a low volume configuration, by practicing the steps of: (a) filling the container with water directly from a non-pressurized tap at a rate of at least about one half gallon per minute; and (b) pouring purified water from the container at a pour rate of at least about one half gallon per minute; characterized by the step, between steps (a) and (b) of (c) maintaining the tap water in the container at least about 30 seconds, in contact with the material, to effect removal of contaminants therefrom.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
74 words
A method as recited in claim 9 wherein step (c) is facilitated by rolling up a sheet (15) of activated carbon impregnated material into a spiral roll (16), the roll having a width substantially equal to the height of the container, and inserting the roll into the container to thereby fill about 10-40% of the interior volume (12) of the container in a substantially uniform configuration with activated carbon in a porous sheet form.
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