WO2015059504A1

WO2015059504A1 - Water bottle filter arrangement

Info

Publication number: WO2015059504A1
Application number: PCT/GB2014/053195
Authority: WO
Inventors: Piush Sashikant SONI
Original assignee: Nkd Europe Limited
Priority date: 2013-10-25
Filing date: 2014-10-27
Publication date: 2015-04-30
Also published as: GB201318920D0

Abstract

A water bottle filter arrangement (12) for filtering a flow of water includes a filter (14). The filter (14) includes a filter sub-assembly (92). The filter sub- assembly (92) includes filter media (30) through which the flow of water passes, the filter media (30) including a first filter medium (32) which comprises carbon and one or more other filter media (34).

Description

Water Bottle Filter Arrangement

The present invention relates to a water bottle filter arrangement and a water bottle with such a filter arrangement.

Conventionally, it is known to provide a filter for a water bottle which is mounted to and suspended from a removable bottle closure arrangement. The bottle is refillable from a water supply such as a tap. The filter filters the water as it passes through the closure arrangement. The filter usually includes a filter medium such as carbon. However, a disadvantage of filtered water is that it can taste flat and lifeless and be low in (or devoid of) minerals and nutrients.

In this specification, it will be understood that use of the adjectives first, second, third, etc does not necessarily imply any particular order in flow sequence or structure, or the presence of components not specifically recited. For example, the presence of first and third components does not imply the presence of a second component. According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a water bottle filter arrangement for filtering a flow of water, the arrangement including a filter, the filter including a filter sub-assembly, the filter subassembly including filter media through which the flow of water passes, the filter media including a first filter medium which comprises carbon and one or more other filter media.

Possibly, the filter includes at least two layers of the filter media, including a layer of the first filter medium and one or more further layers of the other filter media.

Possibly, the first filter medium is formed as a substantially rigid structure, which may be self-supporting. Possibly, in another embodiment, the first filter medium is relatively flexible in form, and may not be self-supporting, and may be in the form of a fabric or cloth. Possibly, the first filter medium defines a cavity, in which may be located one or more layers of the other filter media. Possibly, the first filter medium is in the form of a container, which may be tube-like, and may define the cavity, and which may have a closed end at one end. Possibly, the container has an open end at the other end.

Possibly, the container includes a cap member, which in an assembled condition closes the open end to retain the one or more layers of other filter media. Alternatively, the container may have two closed ends.

Possibly, the carbon is in the form of charcoal, which may be activated.

Possibly, the first filter medium includes a magnetizing medium, which applies a magnetic field to the water flow.

Possibly, the first filter medium has a length:width ratio of less than 2.5, and more desirably of no more than 1 .7. Possibly, the ratio is no less than 0.6.

Possibly, the or one of the other filter media comprises a second filter medium. The second filter medium may comprise an anti-bacterial medium, and/or may comprise a heavy metal absorber and/or may comprise a chlorine reducer. The second filter medium may comprise the or one of the layers, and may be located in flow sequence before the first filter medium, or may be located in flow sequence after the first filter medium, or may be located in flow sequence both before and after the first filter medium. The second filter medium may be relatively flexible in form, and may not be self-supporting. The second filter medium may be located around the structure of the first filter medium, and may be located around the first filter medium on all sides of the first filter medium.

The second filter medium may comprise one or more metals and may comprise silver, and/or copper, and/or titanium. The second filter medium may comprise a cloth to which the metal(s) has been applied. Possibly, the metal(s) is applied to the cloth by sputtering.

Possibly, the or one of the other filter media comprises one or more water conditioning filter media. The water conditioning filter media may be located in flow sequence after the first filter medium, and may comprise one of the further layers. The water conditioning filter media may be substantially located in the cavity of the first filter medium. The water conditioning filter media may be in the form of powder, granules, balls, beads, or cloth. The cloth may be woven or non-woven, and may be formed of synthetic or natural fibres. Possibly, the water conditioning filter media comprises any one or any combination from the group containing: an infra-red energy emitter; a negative ion releaser; a negative potential increaser (oxidation reduction potential (ORP) reducer); a water declusterer; a magnetizing medium; a heavy metal absorber; an arsenic absorber; a pH balancer; an alkalinity (or pH) increaser; a chlorine absorber; a fluorine absorber; a micro-nutrient provider; an antioxidant, an electrolyte increaser, an odour reducer, a taste improver, a contaminant (organic and/or inorganic) remover, a bacteria reducer, a water softener, an iron absorber, a hydrogen sulphide absorber. Possibly, the or one of the water conditioning filter media includes a pyroelectric material, which may include tourmaline. The tourmaline may comprise the infra-red energy emitter, the negative ion releaser, the water declusterer. Possibly, the or one of the water conditioning filter media includes maifan stone. The maifan stone may comprise the heavy metal absorber, the pH balancer, the chlorine absorber, the fluorine absorber, the micro nutrient provider; the anti-oxidant, the electrolyte increaser.

Possibly, the or one of the water conditioning filter media includes Tenko-seki volcanic stone, which may comprise the infra-red energy emitter, the micro-nutrient provider, the electrolyte increaser.

Possibly, the or one of the water conditioning filter media includes activated carbon, which may comprise the odour reducer, the taste improver, the chlorine remover. The activated carbon may include silver, which may comprise the bacteria reducer.

Possibly, the or one of the water conditioning filter media includes ion exchange resin, which may comprise the water softener and the contaminant remover.

Possibly, the or one of the water conditioning filter media includes copper-zinc granules, which may comprise the chlorine remover, the heavy metals absorber, the iron absorber, the hydrogen sulphide absorber.

Possibly, the or one of the water conditioning filter media includes negative ion balls, which may comprise the taste improver, the water softener and the negative ion increaser. Possibly, the or one of the water conditioning filter media includes negative potential ceramic balls, which may comprise the negative potential increaser, the ORP level reducer, the pH increaser. Possibly, the or one of the water conditioning filter media includes a water conditioning cloth, which may comprise the bacteria reducer, the heavy metal absorber, the chlorine absorber. The water conditioning cloth may comprise one or more metals and may comprise silver, and/or copper, and/or titanium.

Possibly, the filter includes a filter housing defining an interior and one or more inlet apertures which permit, in use, the flow of water to flow into the interior and an outlet aperture which permits the flow of water to flow out of the interior through a closure arrangement of a bottle.

Possibly, the filter includes a mounting for attaching the filter to the closure arrangement.

Possibly, the filter sub assembly is located in the interior of the housing. Possibly, the filter is orientated with the closed end of the first filter medium away from the outlet aperture. Alternatively, the filter is orientated with the closed end of the first filter medium towards the outlet aperture

Possibly, the filter includes a swirl inducer, which induces a non-linear motion in at least part of the flow. The swirl inducer may include one or more vanes, and may define one or more apertures, through which at least a portion of the flow is passable in use. Possibly, the swirl inducer includes a wall, which may, in an assembled condition, extend across the interior to define an inlet cavity. Possibly, the wall defines the swirl inducer apertures. Possibly, the flow of water passing through the inlet apertures passes substantially into the inlet cavity. Possibly, the water bottle filter arrangement includes the closure arrangement. Possibly, the filter arrangement includes a filter seal which seals between the filter sub-assembly and the closure arrangement.

Possibly, the filter arrangement includes a neck seal, which seals between the closure arrangement and a body of the bottle.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a water bottle, the bottle including a water bottle filter arrangement for filtering a flow of water, the arrangement including a filter, the filter including a filter sub-assembly, the filter sub-assembly including filter media through which the flow of water passes, the filter media including a first filter medium which comprises carbon and one or more other filter media.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of filtering water, the method including providing a water bottle filter arrangement for filtering a flow of water, the arrangement including a filter, the filter including a filter sub-assembly, the filter sub-assembly including filter media through which the flow of water passes, the filter media including a first filter medium which comprises carbon and one or more other filter media.

Possibly, the water bottle filter arrangement includes any of the features described in any of the preceding statements or following description. Possibly, the method includes any of the steps described in any of the preceding statements or following description.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a water bottle;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the water bottle;

Fig. 3 is a side cross sectional view of the water bottle along the line indicated by arrows Ill-Ill in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an exploded cut section of a water bottle similar to that of Figs. 1 to 3;

Fig. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of a water bottle filter arrangement in a partially disassembled condition;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a swirl inducer;

Fig. 7 is a side cross-sectional view of another water bottle filter arrangement in a partially disassembled condition;

Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a third water bottle filter arrangement; and

Fig. 9 is a side cross-sectional view of the third water bottle filter arrangement of Fig. 8 in an assembled condition (parts not to scale).

Figs. 1 to 6 show a water bottle 10, the bottle 10 including a water bottle filter arrangement 12 for filtering a flow of water. The water bottle filter arrangement 12 includes a filter 14. The filter 14 includes a filter subassembly 92, the filter sub-assembly 92 including filter media 30 through which the flow of water (indicated by arrows A in Fig. 5) passes, the filter media 30 including a first filter medium 32 which comprises carbon and one or more other filter media 34.

The filter 14 includes a filter housing 16 in which the filter media 30 are located, the housing 16 defining an interior 18 and one or more inlet apertures 20 which permit, in use, the flow of water A to flow into the interior 18, and an outlet aperture 24 which permits the flow of water A to flow out of the interior 18 through a closure arrangement 26.

The filter 14 includes a mounting 28 for attaching the filter 14 to the closure arrangement 26. The mounting 28 comprises the rim or edge of the housing 16.

The filter 14 includes a layer 36 of the first filter medium 32 and two further layers 38, 40 of the other filter media 34. In the example shown, the filter 14 includes a first layer 36, a second layer 38 and a third layer 40. The first filter medium 32 is formed as a substantially rigid structure 42, which is self-supporting, and could include a polymer binder. The first filter medium 32 is in the form of a tube-like container 46, which defines a cavity 44, and which has a closed end 48 at one end and an open end 50 at the other end. The open end 50 is the outlet end, which communicates with the outlet aperture 24.

The carbon is in the form of charcoal, which is activated, and could be derived from coconut.

The first filter medium 32 includes a magnetizing medium, which applies a magnetic field to the water flow 22. The magnetizing medium could be ferrite, which could comprise 5-15% by weight of the first filter medium 32. In another example, the magnetizing medium could comprise magnetite.

In one example, the first filter medium has a length: width ratio of less than 2 but no less than 0.6. More desirably, the first filter medium has a length: width ratio of no more than 1 .7. In one example, the container 46 has a width (diameter) of about 30mm and a length of 50mm, with side walls approximately 5mm thickness, so that the cavity 44 has a width of 20mm and a length of 45mm.

One of the other filter media 34 comprises a second filter medium 52. The second filter medium 52 comprises the second layer 38.

The second filter medium 52 comprises an anti-bacterial medium, a heavy metal absorber and a chlorine reducer. The second filter medium 52 comprises a plurality of metals comprising silver, copper, and titanium, which provide the anti-bacterial medium, the heavy metal absorber and the chlorine reducer. The second filter medium 52 comprises a cloth or fabric to which the metals have been applied, to form a metalled cloth 54. The metals are applied as particles to the cloth 54 by sputtering. The silver could be in the form of nanosilver, in which the particles are in the size range of 1 to 500 nm. The metals are effective at removing and resisting up to 99.9% of staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pneumobacillus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida alibicans.

The cloth 54 of the second filter medium 52 is relatively flexible in form, and is not self-supporting. The cloth 54 of the second filter medium 52 is wrapped around the structure 42 of the first filter medium 32 on all sides and the ends, including over the open end 50. The cloth 54 is then sealed using ultrasonic welding. Thus the second filter medium 52 is located in flow sequence both before and after the first filter medium 32.

The metalled cloth 54 of the second filter medium 52 also provides an anti-fungal property.

The other filter media 34 comprise water conditioning filter media 56. The water conditioning filter media 56 are located in flow sequence after the first filter medium 32, and comprise the third layer 40. The water conditioning filter media 56 are substantially located in the cavity 44 of the first filter medium 32.

The water conditioning filter media 56 comprise any one or any combination from the group containing: an infra-red energy emitter; a negative ion releaser; a negative potential increaser (oxidation reduction potential (ORP) reducer); a water declusterer; a magnetizing medium; a heavy metal absorber; an arsenic absorber; a pH balancer; an alkalinity (or pH) increaser; a chlorine absorber; a fluorine absorber; a micro-nutrient provider; an antioxidant, an electrolyte increaser, an odour reducer, a taste improver, a contaminant (organic and/or inorganic) remover, a bacteria reducer, a water softener, an iron absorber, a hydrogen sulphide absorber.

The water conditioning filter media 56 include a pyroelectric material, which includes tourmaline. The tourmaline comprises the infra-red energy emitter, the negative ion releaser and the water declusterer.

Tourmaline compounds far infrared rays and negative ions to de- cluster water into smaller molecules and helps increase immunity levels and speed up healing.

The tourmaline could be provided in the form of bio-ceramic media.

The water conditioning filter media 56 include maifan stone. The maifan stone comprises the heavy metal absorber, the pH balancer, the chlorine absorber, the fluorine absorber, the micro nutrient provider; the antioxidant, and electrolyte increaser.

Maifan stone has strong absorbability to heavy metals, such as lead, cadmium, chrome, mercury, copper, zinc, manganese and nickel, and radioelements uranium, thorium and radium, etc. and also has strong absorbability to hydrides, titanates and mixed pathogens in water. At the same time, maifan stone releases micro nutrients such as zinc, manganese, lithium, molybdenum, silicon and boron etc, as trace minerals, which are beneficial to health.

Maifan stone can adjust and balance the pH of the water flow and can lower fluorine and chlorine levels. The water conditioning filter media 56 include Tenko-seki volcanic stone, which comprises the infra-red energy emitter, the micro-nutrient provider, and the electrolyte increaser. Tenko-seki volcanic stone, also known as 'super growth energy stone' (SGES) emits a far-infrared energy between 4 to 14 microns, to which many of its health-related properties are attributed. SGES has a unique trace mineral profile, containing over fifty kinds of essential trace minerals and several ultra-micro-minerals that play important roles in the human body, including the remarkable effect of activating healthy body cells.

The water conditioning filter media 56 could include other mineral media, which could be volcanic mineral media, which could comprise one, some or all of the media from the above mentioned group. For example, the water conditioning filter media 56 could include a magnetizing medium, such as ferrite or magnetite. Magnetite is an arsenic absorber. In another example, the water conditioning filter media 56 could include an alkalinity increaser. In yet another example, the water conditioning filter media 56 could include a negative potential increaser (oxidation reduction potential (ORP) reducer), which increases the negative potential of the water flow, increasing the pH and alkalinity.

The water conditioning filter media 56 could include activated carbon, which comprises the odour reducer, the taste improver, the chlorine remover. The activated carbon could be coconut carbon granules.

The activated carbon could include silver, which comprises the bacteria reducer.

The water conditioning filter media 56 could include ion exchange resin, which comprises the water softener and the contaminant remover. The ion exchange resin could comprise polystyrene sulphonate beads. The water conditioning filter media 56 could include copper-zinc granules (referred to as KDF (Kinetic Degradation Fluxion) process media), which comprises the chlorine remover, the heavy metals absorber, the iron absorber, the hydrogen sulphide absorber. The water conditioning filter media 56 could include negative ion balls, which comprise the taste improver, the water softener and the negative ion increaser.

The water conditioning filter media 56 could include negative potential ceramic balls, which comprise the negative potential increaser, the ORP level reducer, the pH increaser. The water conditioning filter media 56 could include a water conditioning cloth, which comprises the bacteria reducer, the heavy metal absorber, the chlorine absorber.

The water conditioning cloth comprises one or more metals and could comprise silver, and/or copper, and/or titanium.

The water conditioning filter media 56 could be provided in the form of powder, granules, balls, beads, or cloth. The cloth could be woven or non- woven, and could be formed of synthetic or natural fibres.

The water conditioning filter media 56 could be provided in the form of bio-ceramic media.

In one example, the filter 14 includes a total of 10-75g of water conditioning filter media 56, with substantially equal quantities of each of the water conditioning filter media 56.

In one example, the water conditioning filter media 56 comprises activated coconut carbon granules with or without silver impregnation, with ion exchange resin. The carbon granules in the cavity 44 increase the life of the filter 14. In a second example, the water conditioning filter media 56 comprises activated coconut carbon granules only, with or without silver impregnation.

In a third example, the water conditioning filter media 56 comprises copper-zinc granules (KDF process media) only.

In a fourth example, the water conditioning filter media 56 comprises negative ion balls and negative potential ceramic balls, at 10-50% negative ions to negative potential ceramic balls.

In a fifth example, the water conditioning filter media 56 comprises negative ion balls, negative potential balls and carbon granules with or without silver impregnation, each constituent material making up 10-50% of the total mix.

All of these above combinations could include a layer of the metalled cloth 54 as an additional layer on the inside of the carbon tube container 46.

In another example, the water conditioning filter media 56 comprises the water conditioning filter cloth only, which is the same cloth as the metalled cloth 54. The additional quantity of cloth 54 increases the anti-bacterial capacity of the filter 14.

The filter 14 includes a swirl inducer 58, which induces a non-linear motion in at least part of the flow A, specifically a rotational direction motion component around the longitudinal axis 84 of the filter 14. The swirl inducer 58 improves the contact between the water flow A and the filter media 30, improving the efficiency of the filter 14. The swirl inducer 58 includes one or more vanes, which are curved, and defines one or more apertures 62, through which at least a portion of the flow is passable in use. The swirl inducer 58 includes a wall 60, which, in an assembled condition, extends across the interior 18 to define an inlet cavity 96. The wall 60 defines the swirl inducer apertures 62. The flow of water 22 passing through the inlet apertures 20 passes substantially into the inlet cavity 96. However, the inlet apertures 20 could extend along the housing 16 towards the open end 50 further than the location of the wall 60, permitting a portion of the flow A through the housing 16 directly to the filter media 30 without passing through the swirl inducer 58.

The filter 14 is assembled is to the assembled condition as follows. The swirl inducer 58 is firstly inserted into the interior 18 of the housing 16, with the profiles of the vanes 86 fitting against the curved end surface of the housing 16. A filter sub-assembly 92 is formed by locating the water conditioning filter media 56 into the cavity 44 of the first filter medium structure 42 and then wrapping the metalled cloth 54 around the sides of the structure 42 and over both ends of the structure 42. The sub-assembly 92 could be provided to users as a replaceable, pre-assembled unit.

The metalled cloth 54 thus provides a closure to the open end 50 to retain the water conditioning filter media 56 in the cavity 44. The sub-assembly 92 is then inserted into the interior 18 against the swirl inducer 58 to form the filter 14. In another embodiment, the filter 14 could be provided to users as a replaceable, pre-assembled unit.

The bottle 10 includes a bottle body 64 with a threaded neck 66 defining an inlet/outlet aperture 94 and a bottle interior 80. The bottle 10 includes the closure arrangement 26, which includes a closure member 70 with a spigot 88 and a valve member 76 which fits over the spigot 88 and is movable between an open and a closed condition to regulate the flow of water A.

The closure member 70 includes a threaded socket 72 which is mountable to the threaded neck 66 of the bottle body 64. The threaded socket 72 defines a socket recess 74 in which the neck 66 is receivable. The closure member 70 defines a housing mounting receiving recess 78 in which the housing mounting 28 is receivable as a push fit. The filter 14 is mounted to the closure member 70 by pushing the mounting 28 into the housing mounting receiving recess 78. The filter 14 and the closure arrangement 26 together comprise the water bottle filter arrangement 12. In another embodiment, the water bottle filter arrangement 12 could be provided to users as a replaceable, pre-assembled unit.

In another example, the mounting 28 could include a thread formation which removably engages a similar formation of the closure member 70, permitting the filter 14 to be mounted to the closure member 70 by screwing the two together. In other examples, the two could be permanently fixed together by welding or gluing.

Prior to the final stage of assembly, the bottle body 64 is filled with water. The water bottle filter arrangement 12 is then mounted to the bottle body 64 by screwing the threaded closure member 70 onto the neck 66. In the assembled condition, the filter 14 is suspended in the bottle interior 80 from the closure member 70. The water bottle 10 is then ready for use. In use, a user tips the bottle 10 to induce the water flow A through the spigot 88, although it is possible to induce the flow A by squeezing the bottle 10 or providing suction to the valve member 76, or any combination of these. Water flows through the inlet apertures 20, into the inlet cavity 96, and past the vanes 86 of the swirl inducer 58, which induce a rotational swirl motion into the flow A, and through the swirl inducer apertures 86 to the filter sub assembly 92. Water can also flow to the filter sub-assembly 92 via parts of the inlet apertures 20 which extend along the housing 16 towards the open end 50 further than the location of the wall 60, as mentioned above. The water flow A then passes through the second filter medium 52 comprising the metalled cloth 54, the first filter medium 32 comprising carbon and into the cavity 44 of the first filter medium structure 42, where it passes through or contacts the water conditioning filter media 56. The water flow A then passes through the open end 50 of the first filter medium structure 42, through another layer of the second filter medium 52 comprising the metalled cloth 54, through the outlet aperture 24 and then through the closure arrangement 26.

The filter arrangement 12 of the invention provides a number of benefits. The first filter medium 32 comprising carbon removes impurities, contaminants (in particular, chlorine) odours and taints from the water flow A. The second filter medium 52 resists, reduces or destroys bacteria, reduces heavy metal contamination and fungi and reduces chlorine levels. These filter media 32, 52 are effective at producing a tasteless, odourless, safe water, but which is somewhat bland, flat and lifeless. The water conditioning filter media 56 are also effective at removing unwanted contaminants such as heavy metals, organic and inorganic contaminants from the water, but also provide micro nutrients, far infra red rays and negative ions, and have the effect of balancing pH (or, if required, increasing pH), increasing negative potential (reducing oxidation reduction potential (ORP), reducing water cluster size, magnetizing the water flow and increasing electrolytes, each of which improves the taste of the water and is thought to provide health benefits.

The water conditioning filter media 56 provide increased electrolytes in the water. Electrolytes support a number of vital functions in the body. Electrolytes allow the body to stay hydrated, help the brain and nervous system transmit and receive important signals, help the body's cells generate energy, and allow the muscles to contract and relax.

The swirl inducer 58 advantageously improves the contact between the water flow A and the filter media 30, improving the efficiency of the filter 14. The length:width aspect ratio of less than 2.5 and no less than 0.6 has been found by the applicant to provide an optimum combination of flow rate and contact between the water flow A and the filter media 30, because there are significant proportions of the flow A through both the closed end 48 and the sides of the first filter medium 42.

The filter 14 could be inserted into the housing 16 with the closed end 48 of the first filter medium 32 away from the outlet aperture 24, or with the closed end 48 towards the outlet aperture 24. Advantageously, the latter orientation permits a greater degree of contact between the water in the bottle interior 80 and the water conditioning filter media 56, particularly when the bottle 10 is standing upright. When submerged in the water inside the bottle interior 80, whether because the bottle 10 is tipped up by a user to drink or because the water level is relatively high, the water can percolate into the filter 14 and back out into the bottle interior 80, gradually filtering and conditioning all of the water in the bottle.

Figs 7 to 9 show other embodiments of the invention, many features of which are similar to those already described in relation to the embodiment of Figs 1 to 6. Therefore, for the sake of brevity, the following embodiments will only be described in so far as it differs from the embodiment already described. Where features are the same or similar, the same reference numerals have been used and the features will not be described again.

Fig. 7 shows another water bottle filter arrangement 1 12 including a filter 1 14. In this embodiment, the container 46 includes a cap member 98, which in an assembled condition closes the open end 50 to form a second closed end 148, to retain the water conditioning filter media 56 in the cavity 44. The cap member 98 provides further filtering of the water flow A. As shown in Fig. 7, the cap member 98 sits in a rebate 100 defined by the container 46. Alternatively, the cap member 98 could be butted against the ends of the container 46. The cap member 98 could be bonded, for example by glue, to the container 46.

In another embodiment (not shown) the container 46 includes two closed ends, and defines a side aperture for the addition of the water conditioning filter media into the cavity, which is closable by a closure. Figs. 8 and 9 show another water bottle filter arrangement 212 similar to that of Fig. 7 described above. Again, this embodiment will only be described in so far as it differs from the embodiments already described and where features are the same or similar, the same reference numerals have been used and the features will not be described again.

The third water bottle filter arrangement 212 includes a filter 214. The closure member 70 includes a socket base 122 and socket side walls 124 which define the socket recess 74. The closure member 70 includes a relatively short retaining wall 106 which projects from the socket base 122 part way into the socket recess 74. The retaining wall 106 defines a filter sub assembly receiving recess 126 therewithin. The retaining wall 106 and the socket side walls 124 define a housing receiving recess 78 therebetween.

The retaining wall 106 includes a projecting retaining wall nib 108 which projects outwardly from a location towards the free end and on the outwardly facing surface of the retaining wall 106. The retaining wall 106 is circular in plan (looking into the socket recess 74). The retaining wall 106 could be broken into sections, with gaps therebetween. The closure member 70 is formed in one piece of relatively stiff plastics material, and the gaps give the retaining wall 106 a degree of resilient flexibility.

The rim or edge of the housing 16 includes an outwardly projecting continuous seal nib 128 therearound. The housing 16 includes an inwardly projecting housing nib 1 10 which extends continuously around an inner face of the housing 16, spaced inwardly from but towards the rim or edge.

The filter arrangement 212 includes a neck seal 104, which seals between the closure member 70 and the bottle body 64. The neck seal 104 is in the form of a ring which is located around the outside of the housing 16, abutting against and retained by the seal nib 128. The neck seal 104 could have a cross sectional shape which is circular or square. The neck seal 104 could be formed of a resiliently deformable material, such as rubber or a plastics material such as silicone. In one example, the neck seal 104 could be formed by overmoulding on to the housing 16. In one example, the plastics material could have a Shore hardness of around 40. In one example, the plastics material could comprise polyurethane. The arrangement 212 includes a filter seal 102 which seals between the filter sub-assembly 92 and the closure member 70. The filter seal 102 is in the form of a ring having an L shaped cross section which is located over an end edge of the filter sub assembly 92 above the cap member 98. The filter seal 102 could be formed of a resiliently deformable material, such as a plastics material. In one example, the filter seal 102 could be formed by overmoulding on to the closure member 70. In one example, the plastics material could have a Shore hardness of around 40. In one example, the plastics material could comprise polyurethane. In the assembled condition, as shown in Fig. 9, the filter sub assembly

92 is located into the filter sub assembly receiving recess 126 so that the filter seal 102 abuts against the socket base 122 and the retaining wall 106. The filter seal 102 prevents leakage of unfiltered water bypassing the filter media 30.

The housing 16 is located over the filter sub assembly 92 and pushed into the socket recess 74 and the housing receiving recess 78. As the edge of the housing 16 is pushed into the housing receiving recess 78, the retaining wall 106 flexes, permitting the housing nib 1 10 to pass over the retaining wall nib 108. Once the housing nib 1 10 has passed over the retaining wall nib 108, the retaining wall 106 moves back to its relaxed position to hold the housing 16 in the assembled condition. The arrangement of the housing nib 1 10 and the retaining wall nib 108 provide a snap fit or click fit.

In the assembled condition, the housing 16 holds the filter sub assembly 92 against the filter seal 102, compressing the filter seal 102. In the assembled condition, the neck 66 of the bottle body 64 is screwed into the closure member 70 (or vice versa), compressing the neck seal 104. The neck seal 104 prevents leakage from the bottle interior 80 through the threaded socket 72. The additional seals of this embodiment prevent leakage from the bottle 10 and water bypassing the filter media 30.

Various other modifications could be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The various components including the bottle, the closure arrangement, the housing, the housing apertures and the filter media could be of any suitable size and shape and could be formed of any suitable material (within the scope of the specific definitions herein). The other filter media 34 could comprise any one or combination of the second filter medium and the water conditioning filter media.

The closure arrangement could be of any suitable type. It will be noted that there is a slight difference in the arrangement of the bottle cap 68 between Figs. 1 and 4, which has no bearing on the present invention. In another embodiment, rather than being in the form of a relatively rigid, self-supporting structure 42, the first filter medium 32 could be relatively flexible in form, not self-supporting, and could be in the form of a fabric or cloth (not shown). Any of the features or steps of any of the embodiments shown or described could be combined in any suitable way, within the scope of the overall disclosure of this document.

There is thus provided a water bottle filter arrangement which is relatively simple to manufacture and use and provides a better quality of water in comparison to conventional arrangements. The filter arrangement, filter or filter sub assembly can be easily replaced when exhausted by a user.

Claims

1 . A water bottle filter arrangement for filtering a flow of water, the arrangement including a filter, the filter including a filter sub-assembly, the filter sub-assembly including filter media through which the flow of water passes, the filter media including a first filter medium which comprises carbon and one or more other filter media.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1 , in which the filter includes at least two layers of the filter media, including a layer of the first filter medium and one or more further layers of the other filter media.

3. An arrangement according to claims 1 or 2, in which the first filter medium is formed as a substantially rigid structure, which may be self-supporting.

4. An arrangement according to claims 1 or 2, in which the first filter medium is relatively flexible in form, and may not be self-supporting, and may be in the form of a fabric or cloth.

5. An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, in which the first filter medium defines a cavity, in which are located one or more layers of the other filter media.

6. An arrangement according to claim 5, in which the first filter medium is in the form of a container, which may be tube-like, and may define the cavity, and which may have a closed end at one end.

7. An arrangement according to claim 6, in which the container has an open end at the other end.

8. An arrangement according to claim 7, in which the container includes a cap member, which in an assembled condition closes the open end to retain the one or more layers of other filter media.

9. An arrangement according to claim 6, in which the container has two closed ends.

10. An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, in which the carbon is in the form of charcoal, which may be activated.

1 1 . An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, in which the first filter medium includes a magnetizing medium, which applies a magnetic field to the water flow.

12. An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, in which the first filter medium has a length:width ratio of less than 2.5, and in which the ratio is no less than 0.6.

13. An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, in which the or one of the other filter media comprises a second filter medium, which may comprise an anti-bacterial medium, and/or may comprise a heavy metal absorber and/or may comprise a chlorine reducer.

14. An arrangement according to claim 13, in which the second filter medium comprises the or one of the layers, and may be located in flow sequence before the first filter medium, or may be located in flow sequence after the first filter medium, or may be located in flow sequence both before and after the first filter medium.

15. An arrangement according to claims 13 or 14, in which the second filter medium is relatively flexible in form, and may not be self-supporting, and may be located around the structure of the first filter medium, and may be located around the first filter medium on all sides of the first filter medium.

16. An arrangement according to any of claims 13 to 15, in which the second filter medium comprises one or more metals and may comprise silver, and/or copper, and/or titanium.

17. An arrangement according to any of claims 13 to 16, in which the second filter medium comprises a cloth to which the metal(s) has been applied.

18. An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, in which the or one of the other filter media comprises one or more water conditioning filter media.

19. An arrangement according to claim 18, in which the water conditioning filter media is located in flow sequence after the first filter medium, and comprises one of the further layers.

20. An arrangement according to claims 18 or 19 when dependent on claim 6 or any claim dependent thereon, in which the water conditioning filter media are substantially located in the cavity of the first filter medium.

21 . An arrangement according to any of claims 18 to 20, in which the water conditioning filter media are in the form of powder, granules, balls, beads, or cloth.

22. An arrangement according to any of claims 18 to 21 , in which the water conditioning filter media comprises any one or any combination from the group containing: an infra-red energy emitter; a negative ion releaser; a negative potential increaser (oxidation reduction potential (ORP) reducer); a water declusterer; a magnetizing medium; a heavy metal absorber; an arsenic absorber; a pH balancer; an alkalinity (or pH) increaser; a chlorine absorber; a fluorine absorber; a micro-nutrient provider; an anti-oxidant, an electrolyte increaser, an odour reducer, a taste improver, a contaminant (organic and/or inorganic) remover, a bacteria reducer, a water softener, an iron absorber, a hydrogen sulphide absorber.

23. An arrangement according to claim 22, in which the or one of the water conditioning filter media includes a pyroelectric material, which may include tourmaline and the tourmaline comprises the infra-red energy emitter, the negative ion releaser, the water declusterer.

24. An arrangement according to claims 22 or 23, in which the or one of the water conditioning filter media includes maifan stone, which comprises the heavy metal absorber, the pH balancer, the chlorine absorber, the fluorine absorber, the micro nutrient provider; the anti-oxidant, the electrolyte increaser.

25. An arrangement according to any of claims 22 to 24, in which the or one of the water conditioning filter media includes Tenko-seki volcanic stone, which comprises the infra-red energy emitter, the micro-nutrient provider, the electrolyte increaser.

26. An arrangement according to any of claims 22 to 25, in which the or one of the water conditioning filter media includes activated carbon, which comprises the odour reducer, the taste improver, the chlorine remover.

27. An arrangement according to claim 26, in which the activated carbon includes silver, which comprises the bacteria reducer.

28. An arrangement according to any of claims 22 to 27, in which the or one of the water conditioning filter media includes ion exchange resin, which comprises the water softener and the contaminant remover.

29. An arrangement according to any of claims 22 to 28, in which the or one of the water conditioning filter media includes copper-zinc granules, which comprises the chlorine remover, the heavy metals absorber, the iron absorber, the hydrogen sulphide absorber.

30. An arrangement according to any of claims 22 to 29, in which the or one of the water conditioning filter media includes negative ion balls, which comprise the taste improver, the water softener and the negative ion increaser.

31 . An arrangement according to any of claims 22 to 30, in which the or one of the water conditioning filter media includes negative potential ceramic balls, which comprise the negative potential increaser, the ORP level reducer, the pH increaser.

32. An arrangement according to any of claims 22 to 31 , in which the or one of the water conditioning filter media includes a water conditioning cloth, which comprises one or more metals and may comprise silver, and/or copper, and/or titanium and which comprises the bacteria reducer, the heavy metal absorber, the chlorine absorber.

33. An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, in which the filter includes a filter housing defining an interior and one or more inlet apertures which permit, in use, the flow of water to flow into the interior and an outlet aperture which permits the flow of water to flow out of the interior through a closure arrangement of a bottle.

34. An arrangement according to claim 33, in which the filter includes a mounting for attaching the filter to the closure arrangement.

35. An arrangement according to claims 33 or 34, in which the filter sub assembly is located in the interior of the housing.

36. An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, in which the filter includes a swirl inducer, which induces a non-linear motion in at least part of the flow.

37. An arrangement according to claim 33 or any claim dependent thereon, in which the water bottle filter arrangement includes the closure arrangement.

38. An arrangement according to claim 33 or any claim dependent thereon, in which the filter arrangement includes a filter seal which seals between the filter sub-assembly and the closure arrangement.

39. An arrangement according to claim 33 or any claim dependent thereon, in which the filter arrangement includes a neck seal, which seals between the closure arrangement and a body of the bottle.

40. A water bottle, the bottle including a water bottle filter arrangement for filtering a flow of water, the arrangement including a filter, the filter including a filter sub-assembly, the filter sub-assembly including filter media through which the flow of water passes, the filter media including a first filter medium which comprises carbon and one or more other filter media.

41 . A method of filtering water, the method including providing a water bottle filter arrangement for filtering a flow of water, the arrangement including a filter, the filter including a filter sub-assembly, the filter sub-assembly including filter media through which the flow of water passes, the filter media including a first filter medium which comprises carbon and one or more other filter media.

42. A water bottle according to claim 40 or a method according to claim 41 , in which the water bottle filter arrangement includes any of the features defined in any of claims 1 to 39.