Patent US3797574A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4770768A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4770768A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Water filter apparatus and aerator assembly
Assignee: Water Pik Inc
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Filing: 1986-11-10
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Granted: 1988-09-13
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Expires: 2006-11-10
Abstract
Abstract A water filter has an elongated base with an inlet opening near one end thereof to which is secured an adaptor ring for attachment to a water faucet. A first outlet opening on the base dispenses unfiltered water and there is a channel defined within the base that leads toward the other end, with an externally-operable valve being included for selecting between unfiltered flow to that outlet and flow down the channel. Located near the other end of the base is a mounting on which sits a water filter cartridge that communicates with the channel, and the cartridge delivers filtered water to a second outlet. A number of features include a color indicator to exhibit degree of cartridge usage, a reversible adaptor ring to accommodate different faucets and there are different aerator structures. Of particular note is the replaceable cartridge which includes a deflector for obtaining better usage of the main filtering material, an exteriorally-mounted first filter and an internally-mounted second filter.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth Lang
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 12:12
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F1/00; C02F1/28; B; B01; B01D; B01D35/00; B01D35/02; B01D35/04; B01D35/043; B01D35/14; B01D35/143; C02F1/001; C02F1/003; C02F2201/00; C02F2201/002; C02F2201/006; C02F2307/00; C02F2307/06; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S261/00; Y10S261/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
212 words
A faucet-attachment water filter comprising: an elongated base having an inlet opening near one end thereof; an adaptor ring secured to said inlet opening for attachment to a water faucet; a first outlet opening on said base generally opposite said inlet opening; a channel defined within said base and leading toward the other end thereof; an externally-operable valve disposed within said base for selecting between flow from said inlet to one or the other of said first outlet and said channel; means located near the other end of said base for mounting a water filter cartridge in a manner to communicate with said channel for delivering water from said channel to said cartridge; a second outlet near said other end of said base for dispensing water delivered from said cartridge; a water filter cartridge disposed on said mounting means and having an exteriorly-located exposed filter element that exhibits a given color upon the beginning of usage but which changes color with continued usage in response to entrapment of matter in said water, and further having a reference color exhibited on the exterior of said cartridge in a position to enable a user to compare said given and reference colors; and a housing removably secured to said base in confinement of said cartridge.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
212 words
A faucet-attachment water filter comprising: an elongated base having an inlet opening near one end thereof; an adaptor ring secured to said inlet opening for attachment to a water faucet; a first outlet opening on said base generally opposite said inlet opening; a channel defined within said base and leading toward the other end thereof; an externally-operable valve disposed within said base for selecting between flow from said inlet to one or the other of said first outlet and said channel; means located near the other end of said base for mounting a water filter cartridge in a manner to communicate with said channel for delivering water from said channel to said cartridge; a second outlet near said other end of said base for dispensing water delivered from said cartridge; a water filter cartridge disposed on said mounting means and having an exteriorly-located exposed filter element that exhibits a given color upon the beginning of usage but which changes color with continued usage in response to entrapment of matter in said water, and further having a reference color exhibited on the exterior of said cartridge in a position to enable a user to compare said given and reference colors; and a housing removably secured to said base in confinement of said cartridge.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A water filter as defined in claim 1 in which said housing includes a transparent area enabling visual observation and comparison of said colors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
188 words
A faucet-attachment water filter comprising: an elongated base having an inlet opening near one end thereof; an adaptor ring reversibly secured to said inlet opening for attachment to a water faucet, said ring having exteriorally-facing threads on one end portion for threadably mating to one type of water faucet and interiorally-facing threads on its other end portion for threadably mating to a different type of water faucet; a first outlet opening on said base generally opposite said inlet opening; a channel defined within said base and leading toward the other end thereof; an externally-operable valve disposed within said base for selecting between flow from said inlet to one or the other of said first outlet and said channel; means located near the other end of said base for mounting a water-filter cartridge in a manner to communicate with said channel for delivering water from said channel to said cartridge; a second outlet near said other end of said base for dispensing water delivered from said cartridge; a water filter cartridge disposed on said mounting means; and a housing removably secured to said base and which confines said cartridge.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
188 words
A faucet-attachment water filter comprising: an elongated base having an inlet opening near one end thereof; an adaptor ring reversibly secured to said inlet opening for attachment to a water faucet, said ring having exteriorally-facing threads on one end portion for threadably mating to one type of water faucet and interiorally-facing threads on its other end portion for threadably mating to a different type of water faucet; a first outlet opening on said base generally opposite said inlet opening; a channel defined within said base and leading toward the other end thereof; an externally-operable valve disposed within said base for selecting between flow from said inlet to one or the other of said first outlet and said channel; means located near the other end of said base for mounting a water-filter cartridge in a manner to communicate with said channel for delivering water from said channel to said cartridge; a second outlet near said other end of said base for dispensing water delivered from said cartridge; a water filter cartridge disposed on said mounting means; and a housing removably secured to said base and which confines said cartridge.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
217 words
A faucet-attachment water filter comprising: an elongated base having an inlet opening near one end thereof; means secured to said inlet opening for attachment to a water faucet; a first outlet opening on said base generally opposite said inlet opening; a channel defined within said base and leading toward the other end thereof; an externally-operable valve disposed within said base for selecting between flow from said inlet to one or the other of said first outlet and said channel; means located near the other end of said base for mounting a water-filter cartridge in a manner to communicate with said channel for delivering water from said channel to said cartridge; a second outlet near said other end of said base for dispensing water delivered from said cartridge; an aerator disposed in association with at least one of said first and second outlet openings, said aerator including: a housing; a one-piece molded distributor integrally projecting downward from said base and disposed within said housing; means defining an air gap for inletting air between said housing and said distributor; means defining a series of circumferentially-spaced lateral ducts formed in said distributor; and means for receiving water from said one outlet into the interior of said distributor for passage through and into entrainment with air inletted through said air gap.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
217 words
A faucet-attachment water filter comprising: an elongated base having an inlet opening near one end thereof; means secured to said inlet opening for attachment to a water faucet; a first outlet opening on said base generally opposite said inlet opening; a channel defined within said base and leading toward the other end thereof; an externally-operable valve disposed within said base for selecting between flow from said inlet to one or the other of said first outlet and said channel; means located near the other end of said base for mounting a water-filter cartridge in a manner to communicate with said channel for delivering water from said channel to said cartridge; a second outlet near said other end of said base for dispensing water delivered from said cartridge; an aerator disposed in association with at least one of said first and second outlet openings, said aerator including: a housing; a one-piece molded distributor integrally projecting downward from said base and disposed within said housing; means defining an air gap for inletting air between said housing and said distributor; means defining a series of circumferentially-spaced lateral ducts formed in said distributor; and means for receiving water from said one outlet into the interior of said distributor for passage through and into entrainment with air inletted through said air gap.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A faucet-attachment water filter as defined in claim 4 which includes a cover enveloping said base and in which said cover includes means defining said housing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
87 words
An aerator assembly comprising: a water dispenser including an element through which an outlet opening is defined; a housing; a one-piece molded distributor integrally projecting downward from said element and disposed within said housing; means defining an air gap for inletting air between said housing and said distributor; means defining a series of circumferencially-spaced lateral ducts formed in said distributor; and means for receiving water from said outlet into the interior of said distributor for passage through and into entrainment with air inletted through said air gap.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
87 words
An aerator assembly comprising: a water dispenser including an element through which an outlet opening is defined; a housing; a one-piece molded distributor integrally projecting downward from said element and disposed within said housing; means defining an air gap for inletting air between said housing and said distributor; means defining a series of circumferencially-spaced lateral ducts formed in said distributor; and means for receiving water from said outlet into the interior of said distributor for passage through and into entrainment with air inletted through said air gap.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
A dispenser as defined in claim 6 which includes a cover enveloping said element and in which said cover includes means defining said housing.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-09-13 | 1992-03-14 | 1992-09-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-09-13 | 1996-03-14 | 1996-09-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-09-13 | 2000-03-14 | 2000-09-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |