Abstract: A filter and its holder each have a keyed surface, one being a protruding “key” and one being a recessed “lock,” wherein cooperation of these keyed surfaces is required in order for the filter to be installed in the holder. Modification/adaptation of the keyed surfaces, by changing the location, number and length of the key protrusions and cooperating recesses during manufacture, allows various sets of mating filters and holders to be produced so that only mating/matching filters and holders may be connected together. The keyed protrusions are preferably located on an upper shoulder or on protruding flange(s) of the upper end of the filter. The cooperating recess structure inside the filter holder comprises axial recesses that allow axial insertion of the key protrusions, and hence the filter, into the holder and also a circumferential recesses portion that receives multiple key protrusions to retain the filter in the holder.

Abstract: A filter and its holder each have a keyed surface, one being a protruding “key” and one being a recessed “lock,” wherein cooperation of these keyed surfaces is required in order for the filter to be installed in the holder. Modification/adaptation of the keyed surfaces, by changing the location, number and length of the key protrusions and cooperating recesses during manufacture, allows various sets of mating filters and holders to be produced so that only mating/matching filters and holders may be connected together. The keyed protrusions are preferably located on an upper shoulder or on protruding flange(s) of the upper end of the filter. The cooperating recess structure inside the filter holder comprises axial recesses that allow axial insertion of the key protrusions, and hence the filter, into the holder and also a circumferential recesses portion that receives multiple key protrusions to retain the filter in the holder.

Abstract: Embodiments of a key system for filters and their connecting heads, brackets, or other holders are shown. The filter cartridge and its holder each have a keyed surface, one being a protruding “key” and one being a recessed “lock”. Cooperation of these keyed surfaces is required in order for the filter cartridge to be installed in the holder, so that mis-matched cartridges cannot be installed into the holder, for example, to prevent a particular type of cartridge from being placed in a filtration or other process where it would be inappropriate, or undesired. The keyed surfaces are selectively locate-able preferably at different circumferential locations on a perimeter of the filter and a corresponding location on a perimeter of the head/holder. The perimeter may be, for example, on an outer shoulder surface of a filter and an inner surface of a valve head, or on outer and inner surfaces of connectors that provide a liquid seal between the filter and the head/holder.

Abstract: A filter and its holder each have a keyed surface, one being a protruding “key” and one being a recessed “lock,” wherein cooperation of these keyed surfaces is required in order for the filter to be installed in the holder. Modification/adaptation of the keyed surfaces, by changing the location, number and length of the key protrusions and cooperating recesses during manufacture, allows various sets of mating filters and holders to be produced so that only mating/matching filters and holders may be connected together. The keyed protrusions are preferably located on an upper shoulder or on protruding flange(s) of the upper end of the filter. The cooperating recess structure inside the filter holder comprises axial recesses that allow axial insertion of the key protrusions, and hence the filter, into the holder and also a circumferential recesses portion that receives multiple key protrusions to retain the filter in the holder.

Abstract: A filter and its holder each have a keyed surface, one being a protruding “key” and one being a recessed “lock,” wherein cooperation of these keyed surfaces is required in order for the filter to be installed in the holder. Modification/adaptation of the keyed surfaces, by changing the location, number and length of the key protrusions and cooperating recesses during manufacture, allows various sets of mating filters and holders to be produced so that only mating/matching filters and holders may be connected together. The keyed protrusions are preferably located on an upper shoulder or on protruding flange(s) of the upper end of the filter. The cooperating recess structure inside the filter holder comprises axial recesses that allow axial insertion of the key protrusions, and hence the filter, into the holder and also a circumferential recesses portion that receives multiple key protrusions to retain the filter in the holder.

Abstract: Embodiments of a key system for filters and their connecting heads, brackets, or other holders are shown. The filter cartridge and its holder each have a keyed surface, one being a protruding “key” and one being a recessed “lock”. Cooperation of these keyed surfaces is required in order for the filter cartridge to be installed in the holder, so that mis-matched cartridges cannot be installed into the holder, for example, to prevent a particular type of cartridge from being placed in a filtration or other process where it would be inappropriate, or undesired. The keyed surfaces are selectively locate-able preferably at different circumferential locations on a perimeter of the filter and a corresponding location on a perimeter of the head/holder. The perimeter may be, for example, on an outer shoulder surface of a filter and an inner surface of a valve head, or on outer and inner surfaces of connectors that provide a liquid seal between the filter and the head/holder.

Abstract: Embodiments of a key system for filters and their connecting heads, brackets, or other holders are shown. The filter cartridge and its holder each have a keyed surface, one being a protruding “key” and one being a recessed “lock”. Cooperation of these keyed surfaces is required in order for the filter cartridge to be installed in the holder, so that mis-matched cartridges cannot be installed into the holder, for example, to prevent a particular type of cartridge from being placed in a filtration or other process where it would be inappropriate, or undesired. The keyed surfaces are selectively locate-able preferably at different circumferential locations on a perimeter of the filter and a corresponding location on a perimeter of the head/holder. The perimeter may be, for example, on an outer shoulder surface of a filter and an inner surface of a valve head, or on outer and inner surfaces of connectors that provide a liquid seal between the filter and the head/holder.

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.

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.

Abstract: A filter and its holder each have a keyed surface, one being a protruding “key” and one being a recessed “lock,” wherein cooperation of these keyed surfaces is required in order for the filter to be installed in the holder. Modification/adaptation of the keyed surfaces, by changing the location, number and length of the key protrusions and cooperating recesses during manufacture, allows various sets of mating filters and holders to be produced so that only mating/matching filters and holders may be connected together. The keyed protrusions are preferably located on an upper shoulder or on protruding flange(s) of the upper end of the filter. The cooperating recess structure inside the filter holder comprises axial recesses that allow axial insertion of the key protrusions, and hence the filter, into the holder and also a circumferential recesses portion that receives multiple key protrusions to retain the filter in the holder.

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.

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.