PRIORITY CLAIM

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 62/163,219 filed May 18, 201S, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Consumers are seeking solutions tailored to "done in a day" pursuits for common problems such as water treatment. The solutions available today are simple and inexpensive, but water collection, storage and consumption is far from optimized.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0003] FIG. 1 is an exploded side view of an embodiment of the invention;

[0004] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1;

[0005] FIG. 3. is a side perspective view of a filter cartridge according to an embodiment;

[0006] FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the cartridge illustrated in

FIG. 3;

[0007] FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 ; and

[0008] FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 in a collapsed form for storage. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0009] This patent application is intended to describe one or more embodiments of the present invention. It is to be understood that the use of absolute terms, such as "must," "will," and the like, as well as specific quantities, is to be construed as being applicable to one or more of such embodiments, but not necessarily to all such embodiments. As such, embodiments of the invention may omit, or include a modification of, one or more features or functionalities described in the context of such absolute terms.

[0010] An embodiment provides the outdoor recreationalist with a simple, inexpensive, personal water-treatment solution that allows them to drink quickly and easily from most water or other liquid sources they encounter during their activities. This has the added benefit that a filtering device can easily be removed, and the bottle can be used as a "regular" lifestyle water bottle.

[0011] Referring to FIG. 1, a bottle 100 according to an embodiment includes a top assembly 4, a filter assembly 110 and a bottom assembly 120. Top 4 defines a volumetric chamber 140 (FIG. 2) and may be composed of hard plastic into which filter assembly 110 (described in greater detail below) is attached. Top 4 includes a neck 3 through with liquid can be dispensed and that generally provides a drinking portion of the bottle 100. Neck 3 includes, in an embodiment, a pair of non-continuous external threads that couple with a cap 1 to prevent liquid from escaping the bottle through the neck. The threads of neck 3 are non- continuous so that a user can engage a smooth surface with their lips when drinking from bottle 100 rather than engaging a threaded neck such as is associated with traditional water bottles.

[0012] Cap 1 may be over-molded with a "soft-touch" thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material providing comfortable user manipulation and increased friction for improved grip when twisting the cap around neck 3. A lanyard 2 couples with both cap 1 and neck 3, thereby anchoring the cap to the neck and providing a secure contact point by which a user may hold the bottle and/or through which a carrying strap or the like may be clipped. [0013] Top 4 further includes a shoulder portion IS that serves as a drip ring to prevent unfiltered water from contaminating the drinking surface of neck 3.

[0014] Filter assembly 110 generally includes a filter adapter 7 and a filter cartridge 8. Adapter 7 includes a connection element 16, which in an embodiment is threaded and couples with an internal threaded portion (not shown) of neck 3. Similarly, filter cartridge 8 includes a connection element 17, which in an embodiment is threaded. A hollow-fiber microfllter 21 (FIG. 2) is disposed inside of cartridge 8. In an embodiment, and as best seen in FIG. 3, cartridge 8 includes a plurality of side holes 9, 10 formed along a side surface 3 land bottom holes 30 formed along a bottom surface 32 to allow liquid to access and be filtered by microfilter 21. While FIGS. 1 and 3 illustrate only two side holes 9, 10, it should be appreciated that, in alternative embodiments, more than two such side holes may be formed through cartridge 8 at any location along the cartridge side surface 31. Indeed, in a preferred embodiment, a pair of side holes (not shown) additional to side holes 9, 10 are disposed on a side of side surface 31 directly opposing the side on which holes 9, 10 are disposed.

[0015] Bottom assembly 120 generally includes a ring 12, which may be threaded, coupled to a liquid receptacle 13. In an embodiment, ring 12 is constructed of a rigid, generally non-deformable material such as hard plastic, while receptacle 13 has a bottom surface 130 and is constructed of a highly flcxiblc/comprcssible/deformable soft thermoplastic elastomer material over-molded onto the hard plastic of the ring. This over- molding forms a water- and air-tight seal between ring 12 and receptacle 13. Alternatively, receptacle 13 may be constructed of a rigid or semi-rigid material, and thus comparatively incompressible.

[0016] Filter adapter 7 couples with top 4 and, more specifically, with neck 3 via connection element 16. A filter-adapter O-ring 5 seals the connection between element 16 and the top 4 to prevent dirty (i.e., unfiltered) liquid from being dispensed out of neck 3 to a user. Filter cartridge 8 couples with adapter 7 via connection element 17. A filter O-ring 1 1 seals the connection between filter cartridge 8 and filter adapter 7. Receptacle 13 couples with top 4 via ring 12 with an O-ring 14 sealing the connection between ring 12 and top 4. Consequently, receptacle 13 is in fluid communication with cartridge 8, microfilter 21 and neck 3.

[0017] As best illustrated in FIG. 4, the microfilter 21 is composed of multiple water- passing fibers 22 and, in an embodiment, completely excludes air-passing fibers (i.e., fibers that allow gas to pass into and flow along the length of an interior channel of such fibers). Each fiber 22 includes microscopic pores that allow liquid (e.g., water) to pass into and flow along the length of an interior channel of the fiber while blocking and keeping external to the fiber gases, microorganisms (e.g., viruses, bacteria, etc.) and other solids. Consequently, only filtered water passes into neck 3 via microfilter 21, and the filtered solids are suspended within the cartridge 8 and/or receptacle 13. Alternative, and/or supplemental, filter media could include, for example, activated carbon, a pleated-filter membrane, or a ceramic-filter medium.

[0018] In exemplary operation, a user disassembles (e.g., unscrews) the bottom assembly 120 from the top assembly 4. The user can then fill bottom assembly 120 with water from a water source such as a stream or lake. While holding the water-filled bottom assembly 120 upright, the user reassembles bottom assembly with top assembly 4, preferably ensuring that the connection between the two assemblies is secure to produce a complete seal.

[0019] Because of the above-discussed respective sealed connections between the various components of bottle 100, all water collected in receptacle 13 from a water source must first pass through microfilter 21 via at least one of holes 9, 10, 30 before exiting neck 3. Consequently, to consume or otherwise access filtered water, the user simply removes the cap 1 from the neck 3 and tips bottle 100 from the upright position to dispense filtered water into another container (not shown) or drink the filtered water directly from the neck. The user may squeeze receptacle 13 to increase water-flow rate from bottle 100 through neck 3. Because of the presence of side holes 9, 10 and/or bottom holes 30, bottle 100 can be used in this traditional "tip-to-drink" motion rather than a straw style requiring user suction to dispense the filtered water. [0020] If, as a consequence of the compression (i.e., squeezing) of receptacle 13, there is water remaining in bottle 100, and absent any action by the user discarding such water from the bottle, this remaining water will have accumulated in what is, in essence, a reservoir defined by the neck 3 and microfilter 21. Upon user decompression (i.e., cessation of squeezing) of receptacle 13, gravity and negative pressure created within bottle 100 by such decompression will draw the remaining water back down through the filter cartridge 8 thereby serving to expel, via at least one of holes 9, 10, 30, the filtered solids suspended within the cartridge 8 into receptacle 13.

[0021] Additionally, the configuration of cartridge 8, with ports to receptacle 13 at both the top (holes 9, 10) and bottom (holes 30) of the cartridge, allows water to flow back and forth from one end of each fiber 22 to the other, as well as back and forth between the receptacle and the interior of the cartridge, when a user actively shakes bottle 100. A similar effect is "passively" achieved when bottle 100 is carried during ordinary user activities, such as hiking or biking. Consequently, microfilter 21 frequently, if not continually, is rinsed during such activities.

[0022] Filter adapter 7 includes an air-return valve 6 and an air passage 20 (FIGS. 2 and S) formed therethrough. Air passage 20 permits fluid communication between valve 6 and, via neck 3, the environment ambient to bottle 100 when cap 1 is not engaged with the neck. Air-return valve 6, in conjunction with air passage 20, draws ambient air into bottle 100 enabling bottle to return to its uncompressed and generally cylindrical shape after user compression and subsequent release of receptacle 13. Valve 6 functions as a traditionally configured check valve allowing fluid egress solely out of the filter adapter 7 of assembly 110, as is indicated by the broken-line arrows illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0023] Consequently, after filtering a satisfactory amount of water, the user can manually expel the filtered solids suspended within the cartridge 8 to both clean microfilter 21 and optimize the flow rate of filtered water dispensed through neck 3. To do so, the user can disassemble the bottom assembly 120 from the top assembly 4. The user then removes cap 1 to expose neck 3. While holding top 4, with which filter assembly 110 remains coupled, the user covers the valve 6 with a finger to prevent fluid from passing through the valve, puts neck 3 to his/her mouth and blows into the neck to eject residual unfiltered water and filtered solids from cartridge 8 through side holes 9, 10 and/or bottom holes 30.

[0024] As best illustrated in FIG. 6, top assembly 4 and ring 12 are volumetrically sized such that, when they are coupled to one another, receptacle 13 can be manipulated to almost completely fit inside of top assembly and ring 12 (i.e., the bottom surface 130 of receptacle can fit inside of top assembly and ring 12) for compact storage when filter assembly 110 is disengaged and removed from top. Otherwise, if filter assembly 110 is coupled to top assembly 4, at least a portion of receptacle 13 distal from ring 12 can be manipulated to fit inside of top assembly and ring 12 for compact storage. In either case, after such manipulation, receptacle 13 can be secured to remain within top assembly 4 and ring 12 by coupling cap 1 to neck 3.

[0025] While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, an alternative embodiment may include an infuser (not shown) into which flavor-enhancing substances, nutraceuticals, electrolytes, etc. could be placed to modify the water dispensed from bottle 100. Such an infuser may be screwed or snapped into the bottle in place of, or in addition to, the microfiltcr 21. The infuser may be porous and cylinder-shaped so that anything put inside of it could contact the water in bottle 100, and structured to prevent drinking the contents of the infuser. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiment. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow.