GB2472609A

GB2472609A - Filter means for connection with a tap

Info

Publication number: GB2472609A
Application number: GB0914067A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Richard Burke
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-08-12
Filing date: 2009-08-12
Publication date: 2011-02-16
Also published as: GB0914067D0

Abstract

A filter means comprising a filter unit 22, locking connector 11 and tap connector 6. The locking connector may join the tap connector 6 to the filter unit 22 directly or via a flexible hose (19; fig 6) that is disposed between the locking connector 11 and the filter unit 22. The tap connector 6 comprises a housing 33 with sealing part 31 which are connected by a bolt 5. The filter unit 22 comprises an upper cover 4, lower cover 1 and a replaceable filter 3. The filter may be adapted for micro-filtration, ultra-filtration and bacterial filtration. The input flow path 18 and the output flow path 14 are not in a single line, see arrows, with the output flow path 14 from the filter means being displaced sideways from the input flow path 17 to the filter means, the joint being to one side of the tap and the fluid flow path into the joint being at substantially a right angle to the input flow path to the filter means.

Description

TITLE: Filter means

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to filter means, more particularly for use in connection with taps (USA term, faucets), e.g. for domestic or other water supplies, e.g. for domestic mains water.

BACKGROUND

The supply of water from a tap is not considered sufficiently pure for various purposes. A couple of proposals are known to the inventor having a filter mounted to a tap in a complicated and inconvenient arrangement.

THE INVENTION

One aspect of the invention provides filter means forming part of, or connected to, or adapted to be connected to, a tap. The filter means may be integral with the tap or adapted to be retro-fitted to an existing tap.

Preferably, the filter means comprise a filter unit adapted to have or having a replaceable filter.

The filter is preferably adapted for micro-filtration, alternatively ultra-filtration, alternatively bacterial filtration, preferably to filter out legionella pneumophila or bacteria of like size. The filter may be a hollow-fibre membrane filter, may be a cylindrical filter, may be that appearing under catalogue reference MKM15 obtainable from the Toray Group of Q 15 Companies of Japan via their websitewww.torayvino.com.

The tap comprises valve means, this term being taken herein to refer to any means to control the flow of fluid through the tap. Preferably, the filter means is interposed downstream of the valve means.

Q Another aspect of the invention provides filter means, forming part of, or connected to, or adapted to be connected to, 0) a tap comprising valve means, downstream of the valve means.

Preferably, the tap or filter means is suitable or adapted for the interposition of a flexible hose between the valve means and the filter unit. Preferably, the tap or filter means comprises a joint between the valve means and the filter unit, which joint is suitable or adapted to be opened to allow the interposition there of a flexible hose. Preferably, said joint comprises quick-release means, e.g. push-fit means, which can be undone readily to allow the interposition at the joint of a flexible hose; such means may comprise a lock member to lock two mating parts of the joint closed together and to lock one of these two parts, when the joint is opened, to suitable co-operating means of a flexible hose, e.g. at one end, preferably with the other end of the hose provided with a similar lock member to lock that end to the other of these two parts.

Preferably, the filter means comprise a filter unit and feed means to feed flow to the unit, the feed means comprising said joint and, when provided, said flexible hose.

Preferably, the filter means are adapted for said filter unit to fit to one side of the tap, e.g. so that the input flowpath to the filter means and the output flowpath from the filter means are not in a single line, or so that the output flowpath from the filter means is displaced sideways from the input flowpath to the filter means, e.g. in the absence of said flexible hose.

Preferably, the lter means are adapted for the joint to be to one side of the tap, preferably to direct the fluid flowpath into the joint at an angle, preferably substantially a right angle, to the input flowpath to the filter means.

Another aspect of the invention provides: In or adapted for a tap, anti-bacterial filter means.

Another aspect of the invention provides: In or adapted for a tap, filter means comprising an inlet, a filter unit outlet, and interposed between these a flexible hose or means to allow the interposition of a flexible hose. The flexible hose may be permanently interposed between the inlet and filter unit outlet. If not, such means to allow the interposition of the hose may be quick-release.

Preferably, said filter means comprises a flexible hose between an inlet and a filter unit outlet of the filter means through which hose said liquid or fluid is passed.

Embodiments of the tap are particularly suitable to use with the filter unit on the end of a wander (flexible) hose, for use where a gentle, bacteria-free supply of e.g. water is needed, e.g. in an operating theatre or for washing burns in surgery or for washing babies.

Another aspect of the invention provides: A method of fitting a hose to filter means as claimed in any preceding claim, in which a joint of the filter means between an inlet and a filter unit outlets of the filter means is opened and the hose is interposed at the joint.

Another aspect of the invention provides: A method of washing for supplying water or other liquid or fluid in which there is used filter means as claimed in any preceding claim in or connected downstream to a tap.

Q Another aspect of the invention provides: A person, animal or article washed or supplied with water or other liquid or fluid using any such tap, filter means or method of washing or supplying.

PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION RELATING TO THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made by way of example to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of filter means embodying the invention: Figure 2 is a front elevation of the filter means; Figure 3 is top view of the filter means; Figure 4 is an underneath view of the filter means; Figure 5 is a vertical cross-section on the line A-A of Figure 4; and Figure 6 is a schematic front view of the filter means attached to a tap and containing an interposed flexible hose.

Referring to the drawings, measurements in mm, by way of example, are as marked in Figure 2.

Filter means 20, comprising filter unit 22, locking connector 11 and tap connector 6, is adapted by means of a thumb-ring 30 (internally threaded at the top to engage external threading at the bottom of the outlet of tap 29 and freely rotatable on a tap-connecting part 31 of connector 6, and captive thereto by means of an external collar 37 at the top of part 31, shown in FigureS as an S-shaped or Z-shaped line and its reverse on the two sides of part 31) to be connected to a tap 29 (externally threaded at the bottom to engage thumb-ring 30), or is actually connected thereto as shown in Figure 6, which embodiment may thus be designed for retro-fitting to the tap 29, or could be formed as an integral part thereof.

The tap connector 6 has a housing part 33 that houses sealing part 31, these two parts 31, 33 being fastened together firmly by a bolt 5 so as to seal connector 6 to tap 29, see Figure 5, with the aid of flat sealing ring 8 and 0-ring 9, Figure 1. Part 33 also has a receiving collar 34 that wholly encloses connector 11, which is push-fitted thereinto and locked in place by a resiliently mounted, e.g. spring-loaded, lock member 10. In fitting connector 11 into part 33, member 11 is first pushed resiliently into (downwards as seen in Figure 1) connector 11, while connector 11 is pushed into collar 34 until member 10 (resiliently urged) can enter a slot 35, which action locks connector 11 and collar 34 together in sealed manner with the aid of sealing 0-ring 12.

Projection 36 (which is variously described herein as being part of filter unit 22 or not, it is immaterial) can then be pushed into connector 11, resiliently displacing member 10 until the latter engages behind a shoulder 28 of projection 36 to lock this to connector 11 in sealed manner with the aid of sealing 0-ring 13. Lock member 6 can be depressed slightly into connector 11 to release therefrom filter unit 22 but not enough to release connector 11 from collar 34.

The filter unit 22 has a housing comprising an upper cover 4 and a lower cover 1. It has a replaceable filter 3, which is adapted for micro-filtration, ultra-filtration and bacterial filtration, particularly to filter outlegionella pneumophila or other bacteria of like size. Filter 3 rests on a flat sealing ring 2 in a tray 26 mounted in bottom cover 1 which threadedly engages around the bottom of upper cover 4 to press filter 3 tightly between ring 1 and four resilient plastics cushions 27, thus pressing filter 3 in sealed manner to ring 1. Water can flow along the path indicated by arrow 15 between Q cushions 27 and thus can only flow through filter 3 from top to bottom to exit along the path indicated by arrow 14 through a perforate base 24 of tray 26.

In Figure 2, the references 80.60, 66.00, 13.88, 48.5, 50, 13.00 refer respectively to dimensions of these numbers of Q 20 mm.

0) The tap 29 comprises the usual valve means 32, not shown in detail. The filter means 20 is interposed downstream of the valve means 32, with water flow along the path indicated by arrows 18, 17, 16, 15, 14, Figures 6 and 5.

The filter means 20 is suitable or adapted for the interposition of a flexible hose 19 between the valve means 32 and the filter unit 22. For this purpose, the filter means 20 comprises a joint 36, 11 between the valve means 32 and the filter unit 22, which joint 36, 11 is suitable and adapted to be opened, as indicated above, to allow the interposition there, between projection 36 and connector 11, of flexible hose 19. As described, said joint 36, 11 comprises quick-release means, in the form of a push fit between items 36 and 11 and a quick-release lock member 10 which, as described, simply needs to be depressed to release the joint, items 36, 11, 10 thus forming push-fit means which can be undone readily to allow the interposition there of flexible hose 19. This quick-release means comprise the lock member 10 arranged to lock the two mating parts 36, 11 of the joint 36, 11 closed, and to lock one 11 of these two parts 36, 11, when the joint is opened, to suitable co-operating means 23 (having like form and function therefore to shoulder 28) of flexible hose 19, at one end of hose 19, with the other end of the hose 19 provided with a similar lock member 21 (in a lock mechanism 25) to lock that end to shoulder 28 of the other 36 of these two parts 36, 11.

Looked at another way, the filter means 20 comprise a filter unit 22 and feed means 6, 11, 36 to feed flow to the unit 22, the feed means 6, 11 comprising said joint 36, 11 and, when provided, said flexible hose 19.

The filter means 20 are adapted for said filter unit 22 to fit to one side of the tap 29, so that the input flowpath along arrow 18 to the filter means 20 and the output flowpath along arrow 14 from the filter means 22 are not in a single line, and so that the output flowpath along arrow 14 from the filter means 20 is displaced sideways from the input flowpath along arrow 18 to the filter means 20, in the absence of said flexible hose 19.

The filter means 20 are adapted for the joint 36, 11 to be to one side of the tap 29, and direct the fluid flowpath along arrow 17 into the joint 36, 11 at an angle, which is substantially a right angle, to the input flowpath along arrow 18 to the filter means 20.

Embodiments of the tap and filter means arrangement 29, 20 are particularly suitable to use with the filter unit 22 on the end of a wander (flexible) hose 19, for use where a gentle, bacteria-free supply of water is needed, e.g. in an operating theatre or for washing burns in surgery or for washing babies.

When the flow rate slows down significantly, this will be an indication to the user that it is time to replace the filter 3.

It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that features of the different embodiments disclosed herein may be omitted, selected, combined or exchanged and the invention is considered to extend to any new and inventive combination thus formed. Where a preference or particularisation is stated, there is implied the possibility of its negative, i.e. a case in which that preference or particularisation is absent.

Many variations of the invention and embodiments hereinbefore described will be apparent to people skilled in the art and all such variations are to be considered as falling within the scope of the invention. a)

Claims

CLAIMS1. Filter means forming part of, or connected to, or adapted to be connected to, a tap.
2. Filter means as claimed in claim 1, which comprise a filter unit adapted to have or having a replaceable filter.
3. Filter means as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the filter is adapted for micro-filtration or ultra-filtration or bacterial filtration.
4. Filter means as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the filter is adapted to filter out Iegionella pneumophila or bacteria of like size.
5. Filter means as claimed in any preceding claim, connected, or adapted to be connected, downstream of valve means of the tap.
6. Filter means as claimed in any preceding claim, which comprises a filter unit and is suitable or adapted for the interposition of a flexible hose between valve means of the tap and the filter unit.
7. Filter means as claimed in any preceding claim, which comprises a filter unit and a joint suitable or adapted to be located between valve means of the tap and the filter unit, which joint is suitable or adapted to be opened to allow the interposition there of a flexible hose.

Q 15
8. Filter means as claimed in claim 7, in which said joint comprises quick-release means, which can be undone readily to allow the interposition at said joint of a flexible hose.
9. Filter means as claimed in claim 8, in which the quick-release means comprise a lock member to lock two Q mating parts of the joint closed together and to lock one of these two parts, when the joint is opened, to suitable co-operating means of a flexible hose.
10. Filter means as claimed in claim 7, 8 or 9, which comprise a filter unit and feed means to feed flow to the unit, the feed means comprising said joint and, when provided, said flexible hose.
11. Filter means as claimed in any preceding claim, which comprise a filter unit and adapted for said filter unit to fit to one side of the tap.
12. Filter means as claimed in claim 11, in which the input flowpath to the filter means and the output flowpath from the filter means are not in a single line.
13. Filter means as claimed in claim 11, in which the output flowpath from the filter means is displaced sideways from the input flowpath to the filter means.
14. Filter means as claimed in claim 7, adapted for the joint to be to one side of the tap.
15. Filter means as claimed in claim 14, adapted to direct the fluid flowpath into the joint at substantially a right angle to the input flowpath to the filter means.
16. Filter means substantially according to any example hereinbefore described.
17. Filter means substantially according to any example hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
18. Filter means as claimed in any preceding claim, adapted to be connected to a tap.
19. Filter means as claimed in any preceding claim, connected to a tap.
20. A tap comprising filter means as claimed in any preceding claim.
21. A method of fitting a hose to filter means as claimed in any preceding claim, in which method a joint of the filter means between an inlet and a filter unit outlet of the filter means is opened and the hose is interposed at the joint.
22. A method of fitting a hose to filter means, substantially according to any example hereinbefore described.
23. A method of fitting a hose to filter means, substantially according to any example hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
24. A method of washing or supplying water or other liquid or fluid in which there is used filter means as claimed in any preceding claim in or connected downstream to a tap.
25. A method as claimed in claim 24, in which said filter means comprises a flexible hose between an inlet and a filter unit outlet of the filter means through which hose said liquid or fluid is passed.
26. A method of washing or supplying water or other liquid or fluid, substantially according to any example hereinbefore described.
27. A method of washing or supplying water or other liquid or fluid, substantially according to any example hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
28. A person, animal or article washed or supplied with water or other liquid or fluid using a tap, filter means or method of washing or supplying as claimed in any preceding claim. a)