Faucet-mounted water filter with wall inlet and annular chamber

Abstract

The invention provides a faucet-mounted water filter comprising an upright tubular diverter body that is adapted to be secured to the open end of the water faucet. At the bottom of the diverter body is a water outlet through which unfiltered water can be dispensed. In the diverter body is a valve with a valve outlet duct projecting from one side of the diverter body. A manually movable valve handle projects from the diverter body and is connected to the valve for directing the flow of water either through the water outlet (when unfiltered water is required) or for diverting water through the outlet duct. A filter housing is mounted upon the duct and is preferably connected to the diverter by means of the duct. A carbon block filter element is provided in the filter housing which includes a vertical water inlet surface on an outside wall and a water outlet at the bottom. The filter housing includes an annular water distribution chamber for unfiltered water which surrounds the filter element. The outlet duct of the valve is connected through the side of the filter housing at an elevation which communicates through the annular water distribution chamber with the water inlet surface of the filter element. The water outlet at the bottom of the filter element communicates with a dispensing opening for filtered water at the bottom of the filter housing. If desired, a paper prefilter is provided for filtering the water before it enters the carbon block filter.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A water faucet-mounted water filter comprising a diverter having an upright diverter body which has a water inlet at the top thereof connected to the water faucet, said diverter body having a water outlet at the bottom thereof, a valve in the diverter body with a valve outlet duct projecting from one side of the diverter body, a manually movable valve handle projecting from the diverter body and connected to the valve for selectively directing water flow either through the water outlet or through the duct, the outlet duct defining a filter housing support, a filter housing defining a filter chamber having side, top and bottom walls, said housing being mounted upon the filter housing support and being connected to the diverter thereby, a filter element in the filter housing, said filter element having a vertical water inlet surface on a side wall thereof and a water outlet, the filter housing having an annular water distribution chamber for unfiltered water surrounding the filter element, the outlet duct of the valve being connected through a wall of the filter housing so as to communicate through the annular water distribution chamber with the water inlet surface of the filter element, and the water outlet of the filter element communicating with a dispensing opening in the filter housing for expelling filtered water from the filter housing, whereby the filter housing is supported upon the upright diverter in close proximity or in contact therewith. 
     
     
       2. The water filter of claim 1.Iadd., .Iaddend.wherein the valve . .is movable to.!. .Iadd.connects, in .Iaddend.a water diverting position . .directing.!..Iadd., the diverter water inlet to the diverter outlet duct for diverting .Iaddend.the flow of water to the filter . .and sealing the water outlet.!., said valve being held in said diverting position under the influence of water backpressure due to water resistance in the filter housing . .and means is provided for returning the valve to a position directing the flow of water through the water outlet when the water backpressure is reduced.!.. 
     
     
       3. The water filter of claim 1 wherein the filter element comprises a solid porous monolithic agglomerate of carbon particles and includes a hollow central core communicating with said water outlet, said water outlet is at the bottom of the filter and is sealed to said dispensing opening in the filter housing. 
     
     
       4. The filter of claim 1, wherein the filter element includes upper and lower ends, .Iadd.and .Iaddend.a cap is secured to the upper and lower end of the filter element. ., said inlet surface comprises a cylindrical outside wall of said filter element, said filter element has an internal bore defining an outlet surface therein, and said bore has a lower end that is sealed to a wall of said filter housing so as to allow communication of the bore at the center of the filter through the dispensing opening in the wall of the filter housing.!.. 
     
     
       5. The filter of claim 1 wherein said outlet duct of the diverter is threaded and the filter housing has a horizontal bore threadedly connected to the outlet duct to hold the filter housing in contact .Iadd.with the diverter .Iaddend.body. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the valve outlet duct of the diverter communicates into the annular water distribution chamber through a side wall of the filter housing and a deflector means is provided adjacent the outlet end of the duct to distribute incoming water vertically and horizontally within the annular water distribution chamber. 
     
     
       7. The filter of claim 1 wherein two filters are provided including a fibrous prefilter communicating between the filter and the diverter to remove particulate material from the water before reaching the filter. 
     
     
       8. The filter of claim 1 wherein the filter element comprises a prefilter, a second filter chamber is connected to the filter housing, a passage communicates with the outlet surface of the filter element for conveying filtered water into the second filter chamber, and a carbon block filter is provided within the second filter chamber to further filter the water received from the filter housing through the passage. 
     
     
       9. The filter of claim 1 wherein the water outlet of the filter element comprises a hollow vertical core having a vertically extending outlet surface surrounding the hollow core, a vertically disposed reversion tube is connected to the bottom wall of the housing at a lower end thereof and has an open mouth at the upper end thereof, said reversion tube directing the flow of water upwardly through the core on the outside thereof, next through the mouth at the top thereof and thence downwardly and through the dispensing opening. 
     
     
       10. The filter of claim 9 wherein a second filter element is positioned within the reversion tube. 
     
     
       11. The element filter of claim 10 wherein the second filter is porous plastic. 
     
     
       12. The element filter of claim 10 wherein the second filter is a vertically disposed porous metal-absorbing medium located centrally within the reversion tube. 
     
     
       13. A water faucet-mounted water filter comprising, a diverter having a diverter body with a water inlet .Iadd.at one end .Iaddend.constructed to be connected to a water faucet, said diverter having a water outlet .Iadd.at an end opposite the water inlet .Iaddend.for dispensing water to the sink or other receptacle, a movable valve in the diverter body for diverting water to a diverter outlet duct, a filter housing connected to the diverter outlet duct and supported by the diverter body, said filter housing defining a filter chamber, a carbon block filter element therein having a .Iadd.vertical .Iaddend.water inlet surface on a side wall .Iadd.thereof .Iaddend.with an annular water distribution chamber surrounding the filter element, the outlet duct of the diverter body . .valve.!. is connected through a wall of the filter housing so as to communicate through the annular water distribution chamber with the water inlet surface of the carbon block filter element, and said filter element having a water outlet communicating with a dispensing opening in the filter housing .Iadd.for dispensing water to the sink or other receptacle .Iaddend.whereby the filter housing and carbon block filter element are supported upon the diverter in close proximity or in contact therewith. 
     
     
       14. The water filter of claim 13 wherein a porous filter is provided in communication between the carbon block filter element and the diverter to remove particulate material from the water before reaching the filter block. 
     
     
       15. The water filter of claim 13 wherein the carbon block filter element has a hollow core, a tube is mounted in the hollow core and a metal-absorbing material is mounted in the tube. .Iadd. 
     
     
       16.  The water filter of claim 1, wherein the diverter water inlet is positioned opposite of the diverter water outlet. .Iaddend..Iadd.17. The water filter of claim 1, wherein the filter element is a carbon block filter element having a cylindrical vertical water inlet surface on a cylindrical side wall thereof and a hollow core forming a water outlet at a bottom end of the filter element. .Iaddend..Iadd.18. The water filter of claim 2, wherein the diverter further includes means for returning the valve to a non-filtering position for directing the flow of water through the water outlet when the water backpressure is reduced. .Iaddend..Iadd.19. The water filter of claim 18, wherein said valve is positioned transversely in the diverter body and is movable from the non-filtering position where unfiltered water enters the diverter water inlet and exits the diverter water outlet to the diverting position where the unfiltered water enters the diverter water inlet and exits the diverter outlet duct. .Iaddend..Iadd.20. The water filter of claim 2, wherein the valve seals the water outlet when the valve is in its diverting position. .Iaddend..Iadd.21. The water filter of claim 20, wherein the valve prevents flow of water to the filter when the valve is in a non-filtering position directing flow of water through the water 
     
     
        outlet. .Iaddend..Iadd.22.  The water filter of claim 4, wherein the water inlet surface comprises a cylindrical outside wall of the filter element, the filter element having an internal bore defining an outlet surface therein, and the bore having a lower end that is sealed to a wall of the filter housing so as to allow communication of the bore through the dispensing opening in the wall of the filter housing. .Iaddend..Iadd.23. The water faucet-mounted water filter of claim 13, wherein the dispensing opening is centrally positioned on a bottom of the filter housing. .Iaddend..Iadd.24. The water faucet-mounted water filter of claim 13, wherein the carbon block filter element has a cylindrical vertical water inlet surface on a cylindrical side wall thereof and a hollow core forming a water outlet at a bottom end of the filter element. .Iaddend..Iadd.25. The water faucet-mounted water filter of claim 13, wherein the valve seals the water outlet when the valve diverts water to the diverter outlet duct and blocks flow of water to the diverter outlet duct when the valve permits dispensing of water through the water outlet. .Iaddend..Iadd.26. The water faucet-mounted water filter of claim 13, wherein the filter element includes an upper end, a lower end, an upper cap secured to the upper end, and a lower cap secured to the lower end. .Iaddend..Iadd.27. The water faucet-mounted water filter of claim 26, wherein the water faucet-mounted water inlet surface comprises a cylindrical outside wall of the filter element, the filter element having an internal bore defining an outlet surface therein, and the bore having a lower end that is sealed to a wall of the filter housing so as to allow communication of the bore through the dispensing opening in the wall of the filter housing. .Iaddend..Iadd.28. The water faucet-mounted filter of clam 13, further comprising a second filter element positioned within the filter housing in vertical alignment with the dispensing opening. .Iaddend..Iadd.29. The water-faucet-mounted water filter of claim 28, wherein the second filter 
     
     
        element is porous plastic. .Iaddend..Iadd.30.  A water faucet-mounted water filter for filtering impurities from water received from a water faucet, the water filter comprising: (a) a diverter including: an upright diverter body with a water inlet at a top end thereof, the water inlet having an internally threaded swivel collar constructed to be connected to the water faucet for receiving unfiltered water and a water outlet at a bottom end of the diverter body opposite the water inlet for dispensing unfiltered water from the diverter to a sink or other receptacle;   a diverter outlet duct projecting from one side of the diverter body; and   a valve in the diverter body, the valve being movable from a first position where the unfiltered water enters the water inlet and exits the water outlet to a second position where the unfiltered water enters the water inlet and exits the diverter outlet duct;     (b) filter housing defining a filter chamber, the filter housing having: a cylindrical side wall;   a top portion closed by a top wall integrally formed to the side wall;   a bottom portion closed by a separately formed bottom wall;   a boss extending from one of said walls of the filter housing and connecting the filter housing to the diverter outlet duct such that the filter housing is supported by the diverter body, the boss having an opening through the wall from which the boss extends and the diverter outlet duct being connected through the boss opening to the filter chamber; and   a dispensing opening positioned on the bottom wall for dispensing filtered water from the filter housing into the sink or other receptacle;     (c) a carbon block filter element positioned in the filter chamber such that the filter housing and the filter element are supported upon the diverter in close proximity to or in contact with the diverter, the filter element including a water inlet surface on a side wall thereof and a water outlet; an annular water distribution chamber surrounding the filter element, wherein the diverter outlet duct communicates through the annular water distribution chamber with the water inlet surface of the filter element, and wherein the water outlet of the filter element communicates with the dispensing opening of the filter housing such that the filtered   
     
     
        water is dispensed from the filter housing. .Iaddend..Iadd.31.  The water faucet-mounted water filter of claim 30, wherein the valve seals the water outlet when the valve is in its second position and blocks flow of water to the diverter outlet duct when the valve is in its first position. .Iaddend..Iadd.32. The water faucet-mounted water filter of claim 30, including a valve handle projecting outward from the diverter body from a side opposite the diverter outlet duct and connected to the valve for selectively moving the valve from the first position to the second position. .Iaddend..Iadd.33. The water faucet-mounted water filter of claim 30, wherein said valve is positioned transversely in the diverter body and is movable from a first position where unfiltered water enters the diverter water inlet and exits the diverter water outlet to a second position where the unfiltered water enters the diverter water inlet and 
     
     
        exits the diverter outlet duct. .Iaddend..Iadd.34.  The water faucet-mounted water filter of claim 33, wherein the diverter further includes a diverter handle projecting outward from the diverter body from a side opposite the diverter outlet duct. .Iaddend..Iadd.35. The water faucet-mounted water filter of claim 34, wherein the valve is held in the second position under the influence of water backpressure due to water resistance in the filter housing. .Iaddend..Iadd.36. The water faucet-mounted water filter of claim 35, wherein the diverter further includes means for returning the valve to the first position for directing the flow of water through the filter element water outlet when the water backpressure is reduced. .Iaddend..Iadd.37. The water faucet-mounted water filter of claim 36, wherein the diverter outlet duct defines a filter 
     
     
        housing support. .Iaddend..Iadd.38.  A water faucet-mounted water filter for filtering impurities from water received from a water faucet, the water filter comprising: (a) a diverter including: an upright diverter body with a water inlet at one end thereof constructed to be connected to the water faucet for receiving unfiltered water and a water outlet at an end of the diverter body opposite and in vertical alignment with the water inlet for dispensing the unfiltered water from the diverter to a sink or other receptacle;   a diverter outlet duct projecting from one side of the diverter body; and   a valve in the diverter body, the valve being movable from a first position where the unfiltered water enters the water inlet and exits the water outlet to a second position where the unfiltered water enters the water inlet and exits the diverter outlet duct;     (b) a filter housing connected to the diverter outlet duct and being supported by the diverter body, the filter housing defining a filter chamber and including a dispensing opening for dispensing filtered water from the filter housing into the sink or other receptacle, the diverter outlet duct being connected through a wall of the filter housing to the filter chamber; and   (c) a carbon block filter element positioned in the filter chamber such that the filter housing and the filter element are supported upon the diverter in close proximity to or in contact with the diverter, the filter element including a vertical water inlet surface on a side wall thereof and a water outlet surface; an annular water distribution chamber surrounding the filter element, wherein the diverter outlet duct communicates through the annular water distribution chamber with the water inlet surface of the filter element such that the unfiltered water is passed through the filter element, and wherein the water outlet surface of the filter element communicates with the dispensing opening in the filter housing such that the filtered water is dispensed from the filter housing. .Iaddend..Iadd.39. The faucet-mounted water filter of claim 38, wherein the carbon block filter element has a cylindrical vertical water inlet surface on a cylindrical side wall thereof and a hollow core forming a water outlet at a bottom end of the filter element. .Iaddend..Iadd.40. The water faucet-mounted water filter of claim 38, wherein the valve seals the water outlet when the valve is in its second position and blocks flow of water to the diverter outlet duct when the valve is in its first position. .Iaddend..Iadd.41. The water faucet-mounted water filter of claim 38, including a valve handle projecting outward from the diverter body from a side opposite the diverter outlet duct and connected to the valve for selectively moving the valve from the first position to the second position. .Iaddend.