Abstract: A filter assembly consists of four principal components. The principle components include a top housing containing the means to fasten in a leak proof manner to a valved top of a sport bottle; a base housing; an outer independent charged layered membrane filter; and an inner independent charged layered membrane filter. Each charged layered filter is in a cylindrical form with pleats.

Abstract: A cylindrical pleated filter of charged layer membrane filter material is constructed with minimized filter occlusion and surface area where the filter diameter, a number of filter pleats and pleat width results in the outer pleat apex included angle of each pleat being at least 10-degrees. Other embodiments and the relationship between filter occlusion and performance of a cylindrical pleated filter of charged layer membrane filter material and filter diameter, number of filter pleats and pleat width is part of this disclosure.

Abstract: A monolithic carbon composite filter for use in water filter bottles of the type having a bottle cap and a valved vented top. The filter is formed with exposed surfaces including side walls and a base. The filter employs both radial flow through the side walls of the filter and axial flow through the filter base. All available exposed surfaces thus maximize the available surface area for filtering water. As a result a larger diameter filter suited to the addition of a second media as well as an inner tube providing for separate axial flow may be utilized. A dual aspect or universal flow filter adapted to be attached to a filter housing top is capable of being cooperatively attached to the bottle cap and bottle with a valved vented top. The bottle is normally inverted for drinking.

Abstract: A media in the form of a multilayered semi porous composite membrane containing a strong positive electrical charge with a highly porous surface consisting of 60 to 90 percent void volume and pore size of about 2 micron capable of retaining negatively charged protozoa, bacteria, and virus as well as di-pole particulate matter as a result of the attraction of the positive charge. A housing is a portable adaptive housing containing and supporting the composite membrane. A low pressure stream of water is within the housing and passes through the media. A composite membrane is positioned within the adaptive housing in the path of the low pressure stream of water. The composite membrane is adapted to treat the low pressure stream of water under from 0.3 to 10 psig pressure delivering 5 to 30 ml/sec.

Abstract: A dual flow filter provides meaningful flow through the base of a monolithic carbon composite filter, creating axial flow, while concurrently providing radial flow through the side walls of the monolithic carbon composite filter element. The filter provides consumers with a more rapidly flowing product offering less pressure drop, i.e., resistance to flow, than other portable filters that have been offered to the consumer, while enhancing the simplicity, utility and esthetics of the product.

Abstract: A portable filtration assembly includes a housing containing a water inlet port and a water outlet port and a sub-micron filter disposed in the housing having hydrophilic sub-micron rated membrane filter elements. The sub-micron filter is configured to effect a six log reduction of bacteria (99.9999%) and a four log reduction of protozoa (99.99%) at a flow rate between 10-30 mL/sec requiring a pressure of 1.5-10 psi. The assembly also includes structure for venting air through the hydrophilic sub-micron rated membrane filter elements. The assembly may additionally include a monolithic radial flow carbon composite filter also disposed in the housing. The monolithic radial flow carbon composite filter is configured for removing at least 80% of chlorine and at least 90% of lead over a minimum of forty gallons at a flow rate of 10 mL/sec at a pressure drop of 10 psi or less.

Abstract: A pitcher or carafe housing is provided that has a raw water reservoir. A high performance filter receives raw water from a lower portion of the reservoir. The water is preferably received at or travels through a water entry tube to the back and bottom of the filter. In about 1-3 minutes the water percolates through the filter element, until it reaches a water exit port. A pouring chamber may be provided at the side of the pitcher for receiving the water from the water exit port, so that the water will continue to be treated and flow up into the pouring chamber until the water level equalizes in height in the reservoir and the pouring chamber. The filter and its housing may be placed into and removed from the inside of the raw water reservoir, or the filer housing may be side loaded. The filter media may be a polyester non-woven mat with a weight of 4-7 oz./yd.2 impregnated with carbon or zeolite and subject to compression between about 25-75% (e.g. about 50%).

Abstract: A pitcher or carafe housing is provided that has a raw water reservoir. A high performance filter receives raw water from a lower portion of the reservoir. The water is preferably received at or travels through a water entry tube to the back and bottom of the filter. In about 1-3 minutes the water percolates through the filter element, until it reaches a water exit port. A pouring chamber may be provided at the side of the pitcher for receiving the water from the water exit port, so that the water will continue to be treated and flow up into the pouring chamber until the water level equalizes in height in the reservoir and the pouring chamber. The filter and its housing may be placed into and removed from the inside of the raw water reservoir, or the filer housing may be side loaded. The filter media may be a polyester non-woven mat with a weight of 4-7 oz./yd.2 impregnated with carbon or zeolite and subject to compression between about 25-75% (e.g. about 50%).

Abstract: A bottle mountable filtration system typically includes a plurality of different filter elements or filtering and treatment elements having a substantially common central axis that are mounted to extend into a bottle from a cap with a manual valve. Mounting structures may be provided, by screw threads, or by an interference fit, and connect the filter treating elements to the cap. An outer filter treating element may comprise a chlorine removal primarily radial flow outer filter, and an inner treatment element comprising a flavoring, vitamin, mineral, or medication adding component including a mixing chamber which provides an axial flow chamber radially surrounded by the flavoring, etc., adding component. Conversely, the inner treatment element may be a radial flow carbon composite filter used independently or in conjunction with one of several independent outer water treatment elements which may be radial or axial flow in design for the removal of a variety of biological, organic, or inorganic contaminants.

Abstract: A simple yet effective method and apparatus produce a web suitable for treatment of water as a static filtration media, e.g. to remove chlorine and lead from water in contact with the media. A web is coated with a coating composition that facilitates treatment of water and includes a binder, and the web is compressed in one dimension about 25-75% (e.g. 40-60%) so as to make the void size distribution substantially more uniform. The compression is substantially maintained until the binder substantially cures so that the coated final web produced has a second void size distribution more uniform than the first void size distribution, e.g. the coated final web having void volumes with a mean value of about 6-7×10−8 liters and/or an RDV/BV ratio of at least 0.4, and a porosity of greater than 90%.

Abstract: A simple yet effective method and apparatus produce a web suitable for treatment of water as a static filtration media, e. g. to remove chlorine and lead from water in contact with the media. A web is coated with a coating composition that facilitates treatment of water and includes a binder, and the web is compressed in one dimension about 25-75% (e. g. 40-60%) so as to make the void size distribution substantially more uniform. The compression is substantially maintained until the binder substantially cures so that the coated final web produced has a second void size distribution more uniform than the first void size distribution, e. g. the coated final web having void volumes with a mean value of about 6-7×10−8 liters and/or an RDV/BV ratio of at least 0.4, and a porosity of greater than 90%.

Abstract: An enhanced static filtration media may comprise a mat body comprising a non-woven of fibers that comply with 21 CFR 177.2260, and having a weight of about 4-7 oz./sq. ft.; a coating on the mat comprising about 100%-200% of the weight of the mat, and including, by weight, about 60-85% activated carbon, about 10-20% binder, and about 0-25% zeolite; and the media mat having an RDV/BV ratio of greater than about 0.4, and a porosity of greater than 90%. Various pitcher constructions make optimal use of the media. In some pitchers, the level of filtered water is easily viewed from the outside while the media is not visible from the outside.

Abstract: A pitcher or carafe housing is provided that has a raw water reservoir. A high performance filter receives raw water from a lower portion of the reservoir. The water is preferably received at or travels through a water entry tube to the back and bottom of the filter. In about 1-3 minutes the water percolates through the filter element, until it reaches a water exit port. A pouring chamber may be provided at the side of the pitcher for receiving the water from the water exit port, so that the water will continue to be treated and flow up into the pouring chamber until the water level equalizes in height in the reservoir and the pouring chamber. The filter and its housing may be placed into and removed from the inside of the raw water reservoir, or the filer housing may be side loaded. The filter media may be a polyester non-woven mat with a weight of 4-7 oz./yd.2 impregnated with carbon or zeolite and subject to compression between about 25-75% (e.g. about 50%).

Abstract: A water treatment system including a bottle with a neck, a tube for disposition within the bottle and having water treatment material (such as activated carbon for removing a significant portion of the chlorine in tap water) associated with it, and a cap. The bottle is filled by causing water to flow through the tube, through the water treatment material, into the bottle. When filled, the bottle neck is closed off by screwing the cap into contact with the neck, the cap closing off the tube so that water does not flow through the tube out of the bottle, but rather exteriorly of the tube through openings in a cap first element and between the tube and the neck. A second element of the cap releasably closes off the water flow openings.

Abstract: Flavoring, dietary minerals, vitamins, other nutritional supplements, or medicines may be dispensed in a filter assembly designed to cap a neck or open end of a bottle. A cap has a manual valve extending from the top thereof and operatively connected to the bottom thereof is an activated carbon block tubular filter having a porosity of between about 8-120 microns. Disposed within the tubular carbon block is a soluble solid porous element, having a porosity greater than that of the carbon block, and having a solubility between about one quarter and one-one hundredth of sucrose. The soluble element is at least in part a flavoring, vitamin, dietary mineral, nutritional supplement, or medicine. It also may be tubular, and substantially lining the soluble porous element may be a hydrophobic membrane which allows passage of water therethrough under pressure, but not under static pressure conditions.

Abstract: A filter assembly for use with a bottle having a substantially circular cross-section neck or open end includes a cap for closing the bottle neck or open end including an upper surface, and a manual valve associated with an outer substantially liquid impermeable housing may be operatively connected to the cap at an upper end of the housing and has a number of substantially radially extending openings adjacent the upper end portion to allow liquid to flow into a substantially annular open cavity within the housing. The cavity substantially radially surrounds an inner at least primarily radial flow filter element, such as a carbon/plastic matrix which removes chlorine from drinking water. A treating element is positioned so that water flowing through the openings and into the cavity is treated, either by removing contaminants from the water, or by chilling it.

Abstract: A ceramic filter assembly is provided for use in a bottle for filtering water exiting the bottle so as to remove substantially all protozoa and bacteria from the water. The assembly includes a self-supporting ceramic filtering material element having a pore size of about 0.55 microns or less (e.g. about 0.45 microns) yet having a large open volume (e.g. between 40-85%, preferably between 51-80%), so that water may pass through it at a rate of 2 milliliters per second or more (e.g. 3-6 milliliters per second) with an initial head pressure of no more than 24 inches of water, so that the water may readily be passed through the filter by inverting and/or squeezing the plastic bottle containing the filter. A second, non-ceramic, filter element (such as a carbon block filter for reducing chlorine) may be mounted within the ceramic filter element, and a positively charged coating may be provided on the external surface of the ceramic filter element capable of attracting and holding negatively charged viruses.

Abstract: A filter assembly, particularly for use with a plastic bottle having an open neck with an inside diameter of about 50 mm or less (e.g. about 25 mm), includes a tube of filtering material connected to one surface of a cap while a valve extends from an opposite surface of the cap. The tube is preferably of filtering material such as activated carbon with plastic binder, having a substantially continuous liquid-porous sidewall, a hollow interior, a first closed end, and a second open end. The tube is operatively connected to the cap second surface at the tube second open end by sonic welding, a mechanical connection, or adhesively. The cap has a fitting portion for cooperating with the bottle neck, such as internal screw threads or a snap portion. The valve may be a reciprocating valve, a baby bottle nipple, or a spray device. A biocidal medium may be disposed within the hollow interior of the filter tube, and the tube may be wrapped with a filter material having a pore size of about 1-4 microns.

Abstract: A filter assembly for use with a bottle having a circular cross-section neck or open end includes a fine filtration media having a mean pore size of about 1-3 microns and capable of removing contaminants of 3-4 micron size and larger, and an inner filtration media disposed radially inward of the fine filtration media. The inner filtration media includes activated carbon, preferably a porous activated carbon/plastic matrix having a porosity of between about 10-150 microns. The outer housing contains the fine filtration media and the inner filtration media, and is dimensioned to pass through the neck or open end of the bottle. The fine filtration media preferably comprises sheets on opposite faces of a microfiber filter media formed of glass microfibers of varying cross-sectional diameters, with the fine filtration media in a pleated or accordion configuration. A filter assembly may also be provided having a spring pressed straw.

Abstract: A container includes a gable top fiberboard or cardboard carton having a top and a bottom, and may be substantially filled with drinking water. An activated carbon-containing integral mass of material (e.g. which may be present in various forms and quantities to suit the intended purpose, such as in accordion pleated sheet form, floating at or near the surface of the water, in a porous containing element, etc.) is disposed within the carton and is capable of removing more than 90% of the chlorine, lead or other taste and odor contaminants from the water in its optimized configuration. The carton top typically has a pour opening and the carbon containing mass may be fixed so that the water only comes into significant contact with the mass when the water is being (or about to be) poured through the opening. A biocidal media may also be disposed in the carton positively separated from the carbon containing mass by separator plates and/or ion exchange media.