Pitchers, filtration units, and filtration systems and methods

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to fluid filtration, such as, for example, filtration systems and methods, filtration units, pitchers, and components thereof.

1 . A pitcher comprising:
 a lid;   a base comprising a sidewall and a bottom, the base configured to be coupled to the lid such that the base and the lid cooperate to define a container configured to hold fluid, where the base has a valve configured to be in:
 an open configuration when the pitcher is coupled to a filtration unit; and 
 a closed configuration when the pitcher is not coupled to a filtration unit; and 
   a divider configured to divide the container into a first compartment and a second compartment, the divider oriented such that the first compartment and the second compartment each comprises at least a portion of the bottom of the base.   
     
     
         2 - 3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The pitcher of  claim 1 , where the base and the lid cooperate to define an opening through which fluid can enter and exit the container. 
     
     
         5 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The pitcher of  claim 1 , where the divider is configured such that the first compartment is oriented within the second compartment. 
     
     
         9 . The pitcher of  claim 8 , where the divider is substantially cylindrical and does not intersect a sidewall of the base. 
     
     
         10 . The pitcher of  claim 1 , where the at least a portion of the bottom of the base in the first compartment comprises the valve such that fluid can exit the container if fluid is in the first compartment and if the valve is in the open configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The pitcher of  claim 4 , where if the pitcher is coupled to a filtration unit and if fluid is in the container, the pitcher is configured such that fluid can exit the container through the valve and re-enter the container through the opening defined by the base and the lid. 
     
     
         12 . A pitcher comprising:
 a base having a valve configured to be in:
 an open configuration when the pitcher is coupled to a filtration unit; and 
 a closed configuration when the pitcher is not coupled to a filtration unit; and 
   a lid configured to be coupled to the base such that the base and the lid cooperate to define a container configured to hold fluid;   where the lid comprises a dispenser configured such that if the pitcher is coupled to a filtration unit and the dispenser is activated, fluid is permitted to exit the pitcher through the valve and is permitted to re-enter the pitcher through the lid.   
     
     
         13 . The pitcher of  claim 12 , where the dispenser is activated by pressing a button. 
     
     
         14 . The pitcher of  claim 12 , where the dispenser is activated by a motion sensor. 
     
     
         15 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The pitcher of  claim 12 , where the base and the lid cooperate to define an opening through which fluid can enter and exit the container. 
     
     
         18 . The pitcher of  claim 12 , where if the pitcher is coupled to a filtration unit and if fluid is in the container, the pitcher is configured such that fluid can exit the container through the valve and re-enter the container through the lid. 
     
     
         19 . A filtration unit comprising:
 a housing configured to be coupled to a pitcher having a valve, the housing configured to cooperate with the pitcher to open the valve; and   a pump coupled to the housing and configured to be in fluid communication with a filter if a filter is coupled to the housing;   where the filtration unit is configured such that if a pitcher having a valve and holding fluid is coupled to the housing and if a filter is coupled to the housing, the pump will pump fluid from the pitcher through the valve and the filter and into the pitcher.   
     
     
         20 . The filtration unit of  claim 19 , where the housing comprises a base, and the base is configured to cooperate with a bottom of a pitcher having a valve to open the valve. 
     
     
         21 . The filtration unit of  claim 19 , where the housing comprises:
 a lid configured to be coupled to a filter; and   an upper portion configured to be coupled to the lid such that if a filter is coupled to the lid and the upper portion is coupled to the lid, the filter is disposed within the housing and in fluid communication with the pump.   
     
     
         22 . The filtration unit of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a controller coupled to the housing; and   a sensor coupled to the controller and configured to detect if fluid enters the housing;   where the controller is configured to activate the pump if the sensor detects that fluid has entered the housing.   
     
     
         23 . The filtration unit of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a controller coupled to the housing; and   a unit switch coupled to the controller, where the controller is configured to activate the pump if the unit switch interfaces with a pitcher switch.   
     
     
         24 . The filtration unit of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a controller coupled to the housing;   a unit switch coupled to the controller; and   a sensor coupled to the controller and configured to detect if fluid enters the housing;   where the controller is configured to activate the pump if the unit switch interfaces with a pitcher switch and if the sensor detects that fluid has entered the housing.   
     
     
         25 . The filtration unit of  claim 19 , where if a filter is coupled to the housing, the filtration unit is configured to alert a user when the filter should be replaced. 
     
     
         26 . A filtration system comprising:
 a pitcher comprising:
 a lid; and 
 a base configured to be coupled to the lid such that the base and the lid cooperate to define a container configured to hold fluid, where the base has a valve configured to be in:
 an open configuration when the pitcher is coupled to a filtration unit; and 
 a closed configuration when the pitcher is not coupled to a filtration unit; and 
 
   a filtration unit configured to be coupled to the pitcher, the filtration unit comprising:
 a housing configured to cooperate with the pitcher to open the valve; and 
 a pump configured to be in fluid communication with a filter if a filter is coupled to the filtration system; 
 where if the pitcher has fluid and is coupled to the filtration unit and if a filter is coupled to the filtration unit, the pump is configured to pump fluid from the pitcher through the valve and the filter and into the pitcher. 
   
     
     
         27 - 49 . (canceled) 
     
     
         50 . A method of filtering fluid, comprising:
 coupling a pitcher having a valve to a filtration unit such that the valve opens; and   activating a pump to pump fluid from the pitcher through the valve, the filtration unit, and a filter, and back into the pitcher.   
     
     
         51 - 52 . (canceled)