AU2003100299A4 - Drinking apparatus - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Applicant(s): RAZMIK MIKAELIAN AKIRA CHIBA Invention Title: DRINKING APPARATUS The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: DRINKING APPARATUS FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a drinking apparatus including a liquid filtration drinking vessel.

Particularly, though not exclusively, the invention relates to the filtration of drinking fluid from a vessel using a membrane filter, more particularly, one or more hollow filtration membranes contained within, mounted to or part of, for example, a drinking vessel.

BACKGROUND ART In many areas around the world water carries significant amounts of particulate matter which may present a serious health problem when the water is used for drinking. Many water supplies require treatment to make them drinkable. Common types of disinfectants used today, especially by travellers in countries that have water quality that presents a health problem, are chemicals such as chlorine and iodine. The use of chlorine or iodine to disinfect water is time consuming, inadequate in dealing with new complex microbiological entities that exist in water, and also these agents themselves may cause health problems. Harmful organisms such as giadia and cryptosporidium are difficult to eradicate with conventional water treatment procedures.

Filter equipment to treat drinking water is known and includes different types of filter media disposed in a fluid line, for example, activated carbon or zinc and copper. However, an activated carbon filter is not capable of filtering certain bacteria such as e.Coli and pseudomonas. Furthermore, zinc and copper filters cannot substantially eliminate bacteria in unchlorinated water.

US 5,688,588 discloses a drinking straw that includes a filter plug made of a non-woven fibrous structure.

However, because of inherent limitations in the construction of a plug filter per se, the drinking straw is ineffective in filtering out smaller bacteria. Table 1 of US 5,688,588 confirms this, wherein a log reduction of indicates that around 0.5% of bacteria still passes through the straw, with potentially fatal or severe consequences.

US 5,914,045 discloses a cylindrical filter element in a drinking bottle, the element having a porosity of from 2 to 3 microns and being formed from a porous plastic material having a granulated coconut PAC dispersed therein. The configuration of the element may require a substantial suction force by a user to cause liquid to pass through the element, because of the element shape, thickness and small pore size.

US5,681,463 discloses a hollow fibre filter attachment for use with a bottle. However, this attachment must be screwed onto an externally threaded spout of the bottle. For this reason, the resulting arrangement is cumbersome and less attractive than the original outline of the bottle.

It would be advantageous if at least preferred embodiments of the present invention overcame or substantially ameliorated at least one of the above disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The present invention provides a drinking apparatus for filtering of drinking liquid, the apparatus comprising a vessel for holding the liquid, the vessel having an outlet spout; a support for positioning in the spout so that it is located substantially within the vessel whilst allowing liquid in the vessel to be communicated to a drinker; and one or more hollow filtration membranes, the or each membrane being mounted at the support and extendable from the spout and into the vessel when the support is located within the spout, such that liquid can pass from the vessel, across the or each membrane and into an interior of the membrane to be filtered thereby, and can then pass from the membrane interior and out of the spout to the drinker.

Advantageously, by locating the support substantially within the vessel the apparatus can be provided in a conventional format and appearance.

Preferably the support comprises one or more laterally projecting flanges which in use rest on the edge of a free end of the spout to prevent the support from passing into the vessel interior, the flange(s) being optionally engageable by a cap positionable on the spout to close the same.

Preferably the filtration membranes are a plurality of hollow fibre membranes. Such membranes are highly efficient at filtration and are easily arranged within a conduit. Alternatively, the membranes can be one or more hollow ceramic or metal membranes. In any case, the use of membranes assists in reducing pressure drop during filtering, thereby reducing the amount of suction force required of a user of the apparatus.

Preferably the membranes have a predetermined pore size or sizes for filtering varying sizes of particulate matter in the liquid to be drunk. Typically the pore size of the membranes is sufficiently small to filter out particles at a micro level less than 0.5Am) and even to an ultra filtration level less than 0.05m and down to 0.02Am).

Preferably the vessel is a bottle, typically a deformable polymeric bottle that can be squeezed).

Preferably the vessel also incorporates a pressure equilibrium valve therein, typically located in a vessel wall.

Preferably, the support incorporates an open end of the or each membrane, and includes a liquid receipt chamber into which flows liquid exiting the or each membrane.

Preferably a support inlet to the support is located in use within the vessel. Preferably the support includes a tubular body which extends into the vessel in use, with the inlet being defined by an open remote end of the body through which liquid is drawn into the body.

Preferably the membrane open end(s) are mounted within a head which is positioned within and across the tubular body towards an in-use upper end thereof, the head defining one side of the liquid receipt chamber, with a support outlet to release liquid from the support being located on an opposite side of the liquid receipt chamber, such that filtered liquid flows out of the or each membrane open end, into and through the liquid receipt chamber and to the support outlet.

Preferably the one or more membranes are located to extend within the tubular body which can then function as a protective sleeve for the membranes. Alternatively, for ceramic or metal filtration membranes, such membranes may in fact define the inlet.

In use, with the vessel in an upright configuration, typically the support inlet is located at a lower end of the tubular body, under the support outlet which is located at an upper end of the tubular body, with the head and liquid receipt chamber being located adjacent to the tubular body upper end, and the one or more membranes extending down from the head, in the tubular body and towards the support inlet.

The support can be provided in the form of a cartridge freely locatable or attachable within the spout.

In this regard the support can be snap, friction, adhesively or screw-fitted or clamped in the spout. The support can be provided with suitable external embossments or threading etc to enable it to be snap, screw or interface fitted into the spout outlet.

Advantageously, a cap can be fitted to the outlet spout. The cap can have an in-built cap outlet which can be positioned in a user's mouth, or can be connected to a straw or the like, which can then be positioned in a user's mouth.

As a further option, a carbon filter (e.g.

manufactured from activated carbon) can be arranged at the support inlet such that liquid first passes through the carbon filter prior to entering the support. A carbon filter can help remove organics by adsorption, some of which can otherwise pass through very fine pore-size filters. However, organics are generally of less concern than living organisms such as bacteria.

Preferably the open end of the or each hollow fibre membrane is fasteningly supported in the head, and preferably the head is a bung (typically a polymeric bung) arranged transversely in the support adjacent to the support outlet.

Preferably the or each hollow fibre membrane projects freely from the head either in a closed loop with opposite open ends supported in the head, or as a strand having a single open end supported in the head and a closed opposite remote end.

Thus, the present invention provides a drinking apparatus including a vessel adapted for the filtration of liquids, especially water, such that when the vessel containing the liquid to be filtered is pressured (eg.

squeezed) and/or the drinker applies suction to eg. a cap attached to the vessel, liquid after passing through one or more hollow fibre membranes is filtered and enters purified to a person's mouth.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Notwithstanding any other forms that may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred forms of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a plan view of a preferred drinking apparatus in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 shows a magnified cross-sectional side view of a support cartridge in accordance with the invention and housing filtration membranes; Figure 3 shows a schematic and magnified crosssectional side view of a hollow fibre filtration element for use in drinking apparatus in accordance with the present invention; Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional side view of the apparatus of Figure 1 taken along line C-C; Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional side view of a variation the drinking apparatus of Figure 4 in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional side view of a support cartridge variation in accordance with the invention wherein filtration membranes are shown having a closed, sealed end.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings, drinking apparatus in accordance with the invention includes a vessel in the form of a drink bottle 20 a polymeric squeeze bottle). Mountable to bottle 20 is a support in the form of filter cartridge 1 which comprises a tubular body 11 having a lower open inlet 2 and an opposing optional upper outlet 10, with a passageway 13 therebetween. A carbon filter element (not shown) can be affixed to and across inlet 2 to filter out organics etc. A sealing head in the form of a moulded polymeric bung 4 is positioned in and across passageway 13 to close off the cartridge outlet end from passageway 13 and to define a liquid receipt chamber at that end.

The cartridge 1 can also be provided with one or more holes 8 to allow the release of air out of the cartridge when liquid enters via inlet 2, and to allow liquid in the bottle to enter the passageway 13 when the water level in the bottle is low and the bottle is thus inverted, for drinking remaining liquid contents).

In accordance with the invention, a plurality of hollow fibre membranes 7 are provided to extend within the body 11, typically such that the two open ends of each fibre strand 7 are incorporated and supported in the bung 4, the open ends opening onto chamber The cartridge 1 is positionable in a neck 21 of bottle 20 to extend down into the interior of the bottle, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. In accordance with the invention, a substantial part of the cartridge is located with the neck and bottle. The cartridge may sit freely in the neck 21 or be push, screw, adhesively, interference, friction or snap-fitted in neck 21. When located therein, the cartridge can be clamped against the neck by a skirt 22 of cap 9. In this regard, ledge 23 of cartridge 1 can rest on the upper end 24 of neck 21 to locate and prevent the cartridge from falling into bottle 20. Ledge 23 can be a continuous annular flange or can be defined by one or more discrete projections. The cartridge can also be formed integrally with bottle 20, or may be interchangeable with a variety of bottles.

Cap 9 has an optional spout 14 that defines a passageway 12 therethrough. The spout 14 can be provided with a known pop-up closure valve (not shown). The passageway 12 aligns with outlet 10 to provide for liquid transfer therebetween. Also, the skirt 22 is typically internally threaded for mating with an outlet thread of neck 21, to screw-clamp cartridge ledge 23 onto neck 21.

Spout 14, with or without a pop-up closure valve, is shaped to be placed directly into a user's mouth, or a straw or tube etc can be inserted into or connected to spout 14, to then be inserted into the user's mouth, as appropriate.

Referring now to Figure 3, it can be seen schematically how liquid travels across and into each fibre 7 as indicated by arrows AA, and is then delivered into the chamber 5 from the open ends of each fibre as indicated by arrows BB. Thus, liquid passes across the fibre membrane wall (to be filtered thereby) and into an interior of each fibre, and then out of the open ends and into chamber 5. The individual fibres 7 are typically formed of polyethylene, polypropylene or the like (as described below).

In use, the fibres 7 are partly or wholly immersed in a liquid 6 (Figure 3) requiring filtration, the liquid being located in bottle 20. Typically the liquid flows to fibres 7 via inlet 2 and passageway 13, although these fibres can also hang freely in the bottle. Suction applied at outlet 10 or spout 14, or pressuring of bottle interior via squeezing) causes liquid to pass through the pores of the fibres 7 to filter most if not all of suspended solids and organisms in the liquid, with filtering occurring in, on or at the pores of the fibre.

Filtered liquid exits the hollow fibre upper ends and passes into chamber 5, then out of the cartridge via outlet 10, and then into spout 14 for release therefrom, either straight into a user's mouth or via a straw or tube etc.

As shown in Figure 6, a variation in the construction of cartridge 1 is depicted. Instead of looping each hollow fibre membrane, a plurality of individual fibre strand lengths 15 can be provided, each having a closed (sealed) lower end, as facilitated by closure 16 (eg. a polymeric disc or a carbon filter disc, clamp etc.).

A porous carbon filter element (typically employing activated carbon) may be incorporated elsewhere in the apparatus, to filter out any organics and the like in the liquid. For example, the filter element can be mounted in chamber 5 or at outlet 10, or in spout 14 across passageway 12.

Referring now to Figure 5, a drinking bottle variation 20 is shown. This bottle is the same as that shown in Figure 4, except that a one-way pressure equilibrium valve 17 is provided to allow passage of atmospheric air to the inside of the bottle 20 through one or more openings 18. For example, when the bottle deforms under suction, pressuring or squeezing, valve 17 allows the in-flow of air to enable the bottle to return to its original shape.

Rather than (or in addition to) employing hollow fibre membranes, flat filter membranes of ceramic or metal) can be employed (eg. at intervals within body 11 or at the underside of bung 4 etc), for example, so as to define a cavity on the other side thereof into which filtered liquid flows before exiting from outlet 10 and spout 14.

Many other modifications and alterations are included within the scope of the present invention. For example, the cartridge can be formed or provided integrally with a bottle, flask or a variety of other liquid holding vessels. The cartridge can be provided and sold separately, for positioning in a variety of vessel types.

The cartridge can also be washed after use for subsequent re-use. Typically the cartridge is provided to have a standard range of dimensions for fitting in standard bottle and flask outlets.

Typically, the hollow fibre membranes are ultra micro-filtration membranes formed from polyethylene (or similar) in a melt spinning and drawing process, such as those produced by Mitsubishi Rayon Co. Ltd. Such membranes have a pore size located between the micro filtration range (0.02pm 5pm) and the ultra filtration range (2nm 0.05Am) and can filter out fine particles and all bacteria including colloidal silica, bacterial virus, oil emulsions, latex emulsions, cholera bacillus, typhoid bacillus, Escherichia coli, staphylococcus, cryptosporidium, Giardia and Echinococcus granulosus.

Typically, such membranes are also treated to be hydrophilic covered with a hydrophilic polymer) so as to be wettable in water.

Typically, the ceramic filter is a ceramic element having a microporous structure, such as those manufactured by British Berkefeld or Foseco International. Such filters typically filter particles down to around 0 5 pm in size. Silver metal can also be dispersed throughout the ceramic to prevent the growth of bacteria. Ceramic filter materials include porous clays, ceramic foam filters, silicon carbide and recrystallised silicon carbide materials.

Typically, the metal filter is a sintered metal filter or a laser cut metal filter. These can be in the form of a tube filter defined by a sintered 5-layer plate, metal powder or metal fiber such as those manufactured by Jeongsan Enterprise Inc., or a metal filter cartridge such as those manufactured by Hanyang Engineering Co. Iron cellular filters and aluminium light weight foam filters such as those manufactured by Foseco International may also be employed.

Whilst the invention has been described with reference to a number of preferred embodiments, it should be appreciated that the invention can be embodied in many other forms.

Claims (4)

1. A drinking apparatus for filtering of drinking liquid, the apparatus comprising: a vessel for holding the liquid, the vessel having an outlet spout; a support for positioning in the spout so that it is located substantially within the vessel whilst allowing liquid in the vessel to be communicated to a drinker; and one or more hollow filtration membranes, the or each membrane being mounted at the support and extendable from the spout and into the vessel when the support is located within the spout, such that liquid can pass from the vessel, across the or each membrane and into an interior of the membrane to be filtered thereby, and can then pass from the membrane interior and out of the spout to the drinker.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the support comprises one or more laterally projecting flanges which in use rest on the edge of a free end of the spout to prevent the support from passing into the vessel interior, the flange(s) being optionally engageable by a cap positionable on the spout to close the same.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the support comprises a tubular body extending in use from the spout and into the vessel, with membrane open end(s) being mounted within a head which is positioned within and across the tubular body towards an in-use upper end thereof, the head defining one side of a liquid receipt chamber in the tubular body, with a support outlet to release liquid from the support being located on an opposite side of the liquid receipt chamber such that filtered liquid can flow out of the or each membrane open end, into and through the liquid receipt chamber and to the support outlet, and with an inlet to the tubular body being located in use within a body of the vessel, the inlet being defined by an open remote end of the body through which liquid is drawn into the body, and wherein the one or more membranes are located to extend within the tubular body.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the vessel is a deformable bottle that can be squeezed to force liquid across the one or more hollow fibre membranes, the vessel incorporating a one-way pressure equilibrium valve arranged to allow ambient air to pass back into the vessel after it has been squeezed. A support as defined in any one of claims 1 to 3 which is provided in the form of a cartridge mountable in the spout freely or in a snap, friction, adhesive, screw or clamp fitting. Dated this 29th day of April 2003 AKIRA CHIBA and RAZMIK MIKAELIAN By their Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK