Patents by Inventor Bruce D. Saaski

Bruce D. Saaski has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8167141
    Abstract: A gravity-fed carbon block water filter in one embodiment includes a filter block comprising multiple sub-blocks each comprising filter media walls surrounding and defining a cavity for receiving fluid. Each of the sub-blocks is connected to at least one other of the sub-blocks by filter media of which the filter block is made. In one approach, the filter media includes about 20-90 wt % activated carbon, and about 5-50 wt % binder. In another approach, a lead concentration in a final liter of effluent water filtered by the filter is less than about 10 ?g/liter after about 151 liters (40 gallons) of source water filtration, the source water having a pH of 8.5 and containing 135-165 ppb total lead with 30-60 ppb being colloidal lead greater than 0.1 ?m in diameter. A gravity-fed water filter in other embodiments has no specified shape but achieves a FRAP factor of about 350 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Brita LP
    Inventors: Elizabeth L. Knipmeyer, Toni L. Lynch, Roger P. Reid, Bruce D. Saaski
  • Publication number: 20110073551
    Abstract: Filter modules for use in a water dispenser, carafe, or other gravity-flow water filtration and dispensing unit are self-supporting, rigid and porous, and are adapted in size and shape to substantially fill a generally-cylindrical housing. The filter modules are molded forms of high-porosity compositions, so that they are consistent in performance and “non-dusting” compared to the unpredictable arrangements, positions, and performance of loose activated carbon particles. Filter modules may include activated carbon, zeolitic, resins, metal-scavengers, and/or other water filtration/treatment media granules/powders, for example, bound into a solid profile form by thermoplastic and/or other polymeric binders. Low melt index, or very low melt index, binders are preferred to maximize exposure of the activated carbon surface area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: OMNIPURE FILTER COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: ROGER P. REID, BRUCE D. SAASKI
  • Publication number: 20090001011
    Abstract: A gravity-fed carbon block water filter in one embodiment includes a filter block comprising multiple sub-blocks each comprising filter media walls surrounding and defining a cavity for receiving fluid. Each of the sub-blocks is connected to at least one other of the sub-blocks by filter media of which the filter block is made. In one approach, the filter media includes about 20-90 wt % activated carbon, and about 5-50 wt % binder. In another approach, a lead concentration in a final liter of effluent water filtered by the filter is less than about 10 ?g/liter after about 151 liters (40 gallons) of source water filtration, the source water having a pH of 8.5 and containing 135-165 ppb total lead with 30-60 ppb being colloidal lead greater than 0.1 ?m in diameter. A gravity-fed water filter in other embodiments has no specified shape but achieves a FRAP factor of about 350 or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Inventors: Elizabeth L. Knipmeyer, Toni L. Lynch, Roger P. Reid, Bruce D. Saaski
  • Publication number: 20080223797
    Abstract: Multi-core solid profile filter media blocks include multiple sub-blocks, which may be formed by providing a block with multiple interior cavities extending deep into the block, to allow water to flow deep inside the filter block to access the media of the sub-block (in the case wherein the cavities are at the inlet to the block) or that allows water to be collected from each filtration sub-block (in the case wherein the cavities are at the outlet from the block). One or more indentations/spaces/gaps in the exterior surface of the block also may be provided to separate and extend between portions of the sub-blocks, so that substantially all of the filter media of a sub-block is accessible to fluid for filtration. This way, a filter block may include a large amount of media in a small cartridge or package volume, and the filter block may exhibit good flow distribution and low pressure drop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicant: OMNIPURE FILTER COMPANY, INC.
    Inventors: ROGER P. REID, BRUCE D. SAASKI
  • Publication number: 20080135489
    Abstract: Solid profile filter blocks for filtration of fluids include activated carbon fibers, preferably cut or ground into rod-shaped elements and bound into a solid profile using one or more binders. The filter block has internal structure and porosity that exhibit surprisingly-low pressure drop while effectively removing specific contaminants of interest. Granular activated carbon, lead or arsenic sorbents, and/or other active components may supplement the activated carbon fibers/rods in the present invention. The preferred manufacturing techniques preferably do not include any slurry process or other adding of water during the manufacturing process. The preferred cutting and/or grinding of longer, activated carbon source fibers into a range of rod lengths, including very short rods and longer rods, may be called a gross cut, as opposed to a precise cut that has a narrow distribution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: OMNIPURE FILTER COMPANY, INC.
    Inventor: Bruce D. Saaski
  • Publication number: 20080110820
    Abstract: A gravity fed carbon block water filter includes activated carbon particles; a binder material interspersed with the activated carbon particles; and a lead scavenger coupled to at least one of the activated carbon particles and binder material, the lead scavenger being for removing lead from water, where a lead concentration in a final liter of effluent water filtered by the filter is less than about 10 ?g/liter after about 151 liters (40 gallons) of source water filtration, the source water having a pH of 8.5 and containing 135-165 parts per billion total lead with 30-60 parts per billion thereof being colloidal lead greater than 0.1 ?m in diameter, and where the water has an average flow rate of at least 0.1 liter per minute through the filter with a head pressure of between approximately 0.1 and 1.0 psi.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Inventors: Elizabeth Louise Knipmeyer, Toni L. Lynch, Bruce D. Saaski
  • Patent number: 7293661
    Abstract: Granules comprise binder-agglomerated active particles for liquid treatment or filtration. Each granule has a center core of a material that itself has binding properties without the addition of other binders or sprays or adhesives, or, alternatively, each granule comprises a matrix of active materials stuck together with the binder. The binder structure preferably ranges from a non-uniform matrix of binder formed by heat-deformed binder particles, to a clump of binder particles generally retaining the original shape or the binder particles, to non-continuous connectors of binder between active particles. The invented two-part media has high surface area per volume of media, which, because the outer surface and inner void surfaces of the particles are preferably substantially covered with active particles, translates to high activity for the preferred treatment process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Omnipure Filter Company
    Inventors: Bruce D. Saaski, Roger P. Reid
  • Publication number: 20030224932
    Abstract: Granules comprise binder-agglomerated active particles for liquid treatment or filtration. Each granule has a center core of a material that itself has binding properties without the addition of other binders or sprays or adhesives, or, alternatively, each granule comprises a matrix of active materials stuck together with the binder. The binder structure preferably ranges from a non-uniform matrix of binder formed by heat-deformed binder particles, to a clump of binder particles generally retaining the original shape or the binder particles, to non-continuous connectors of binder between active particles. The invented two-part media has high surface area per volume of media, which, because the outer surface and inner void surfaces of the particles are preferably substantially covered with active particles, translates to high activity for the preferred treatment process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Inventors: Bruce D. Saaski, Roger P. Reid
  • Patent number: D323874
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1992
    Assignee: Ecowater Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Bernie R. Hirman, Bruce D. Saaski
  • Patent number: D612906
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Omnipure Filter Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger P. Reid, Bruce D Saaski
  • Patent number: D614259
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Omnipure Filter Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger P. Reid, Bruce D. Saaski
  • Patent number: D615149
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Omnipure Filter Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger P. Reid, Bruce D Saaski
  • Patent number: D615150
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Omnipure Filter Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Roger P. Reid, Bruce D. Saaski
  • Patent number: D617869
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Omnipure Filter Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Roger P. Reid, Bruce D Saaski
  • Patent number: D618761
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Omnipure Filter Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger P. Reid, Bruce D. Saaski
  • Patent number: D344783
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Assignee: Ecowater Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Bernie R. Hirman, Bruce D. Saaski
  • Patent number: D633595
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Omnipure Filter Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger P. Reid, Bruce D Saaski
  • Patent number: D639899
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Inventors: Roger P. Reid, Bruce D Saaski
  • Patent number: D645538
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Omnipure Filter Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger P. Reid, Bruce D. Saaski
  • Patent number: D647595
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Omnipure Filter Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger P. Reid, Bruce D Saaski