Filter cartridge for a whole house water filtering system

Abstract

A filter cartridge for a whole house water filter includes a cylindrical, or tubular, filter media coupled to a mixer tank with improved high flow mixing features. The mixer tank includes a bowl in which a flow diverter, a flow guide with angled fins and a filter media are provided. The flow diverter has a concave portion, i.e., a mushroom-shaped portion, the interior of which is in fluid connection with a central passage through which filtered water flows. In operation, the filtered water flows through the central passage and is deflected by the concave interior of the flow diverter down through the angled fins of the flow guide. The filtered water then passes out through an outlet. The mixer tank stirs the filter media and water mix to increase the kinetics of the mixing process.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 .- 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . A filter cartridge assembly comprising:
 a standard container;   a top filter portion; and   a bottom filter portion, wherein the top and bottom filter portion are configured to selectively couple together and separate for storage side by side in the standard container.   
     
     
         34 . A filter cartridge assembly as recited in  claim 33 , wherein each filter portion includes a tubular filter media defining aligned central passages and at least one of the filter portions is configured to couple to a mixer tank by an outlet port thereof. 
     
     
         35 . A filter cartridge assembly as recited in  claim 34 , further comprising and a top handle coupled to the top filter portion adjacent the outlet port for carrying and handling the top filter portion. 
     
     
         36 . A filter cartridge assembly as recited in  claim 33 , wherein the top filter portion includes a handle space cap configured to couple to the bottom portion to create a space between the top filter portion and the bottom filter portion when coupled together. 
     
     
         37 . A filter cartridge assembly as recited in  claim 36 , further comprising a bottom handle coupled to the bottom filter portion for carrying and handling the bottom filter portion, the bottom handle configured to store in the space when the top filter portion and the bottom filter portion are coupled together. 
     
     
         38 . A filter cartridge assembly as recited in  claim 37 , wherein the bottom filter portion includes a bottom filter cap having handle mounts that rotatably secure the bottom handle thereto. 
     
     
         39 . A filter cartridge assembly as recited in  claim 38 , wherein the bottom filter cap defines a central aperture for fluid flow into the top filter portion. 
     
     
         40 . A filter cartridge assembly as recited in  claim 38 , wherein the bottom filter cap and the handle space cap thread together so that the top and bottom filter portions function as a single filter. 
     
     
         41 . A filter cartridge assembly as recited in  claim 33 , the top filter portion and the bottom filter portion have a same length and a same filter media. 
     
     
         42 . A filter cartridge for a whole house water filtering system, comprising:
 a first filter portion defining a first central passage, the first filter portion including a handle space cap;   a second filter portion defining a second central passage aligned with the first central passage when the second filter portion is selectively coupled to the handle space cap, wherein the second filter portion and the handle space cap form a space when coupled together, the second filter portion including a handle for carrying and handling when the first and second filter portions are separated, the handle configured to store in the space when the top filter portion and the bottom filter portion are coupled together; and   a mixer tank coupled to the first filter such that an interior space of the mixer tank is fluidly coupled to the first central passage.   
     
     
         43 . A filter cartridge as recited in  claim 42 , wherein the second filter portion includes a filter cap having a handle mount that rotatably secures the handle thereto. 
     
     
         44 . A filter cartridge as recited in  claim 43 , wherein the handle is an arcuate strap Shape. 
     
     
         45 . A filter cartridge as recited in  claim 44 , wherein: the mixer tank includes a handle mount, each handle mount being two opposing upstanding bosses; and each boss defines an aligned hole and the handle includes a post on each end configured to snap fit into the respective aligned hole so that the handle can be selectively removed and reused on the mixer tank. 
     
     
         46 . A filter cartridge for a whole house water filtering system, comprising:
 a first filter portion defining a first central passage;   a handle space cap coupled to the first filter portion and having a male collar in fluid communication with the first central passage;   a second filter portion defining a second central passage; and   a filter cap selectively coupled to the second filter portion, the filter cap having:
 a female collar in fluid communication with the first central passage, wherein the female collar sealingly engages the male collar and aligns the first and second central passages when the second filter portion is coupled to the first filter portion; 
 a handle for carrying and handling the second filter portion when the first and second filter portions are separated; and 
 handle mounts that rotatably secure the handle, 
   wherein the filter cap and the handle space cap form a space when coupled together for storing the handle rotated against the filter cap.   
     
     
         47 . A filter cartridge as recited in  claim 46 , wherein the male and female collars snap fit together. 
     
     
         48 . A filter cartridge as recited in  claim 46 , wherein the male and female collars thread together. 
     
     
         49 . A filter cartridge as recited in  claim 46 , further comprising a mixer tank coupled to the first filter portion such that an interior space of the mixer tank is ‘fluidly’ coupled to the first central passage. 
     
     
         50 . A filter cartridge as recited in  claim 46 , wherein the handle is an arcuate strap shape having a post on each end and the mounts are two opposing upstanding bosses, each boss defining an aligned hole configured to snap fit with the respective post. 
     
     
         51 . A filter cartridge as recited in  claim 46 , wherein the first and second filter portions are tubular filter media.