Portable pitcher for filtering and dispensing drinking water
The apparatus for filtering and dispensing drinking water is disclosed which includes a container having an interior space with a dividing wall defining a first chamber for receiving unfiltered water and a second chamber for storing filtered drinking water, wherein a passage is formed through the interior wall adjacent a bottom surface of the container to provide fluid communication between the first and second chambers, and wherein at least one multi-layered filter pack is disposed across the passage to filter water flowing from the first chamber to the second chamber under force of gravity.
1. The apparatus for filtering and dispensing drinking water comprising:
a container having an interior space with a dividing wall defining a first chamber for receiving unfiltered water and a second chamber for storing filtered drinking water, wherein a passage is formed through the dividing wall adjacent a bottom surface of the container to provide fluid communication between the first chamber and the second chambers, and wherein at least one removable multi-layered filter pack is disposed across the passage to filter water flowing from the first chamber to the second chamber under force of gravity; and
a pre-filter seated in a well formed above the first chamber for removing relatively large particulates from the water introduced into the first chamber upstream from the at least one removable multi-layered filter pack.
2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one removable multi-layered filter pack contains a plurality of filter media layers arranged in series.
3. The apparatus as recited in claim 2 , wherein the at least one removable multi-layered filter pack contains at least one pre-filtration layer.
4. The apparatus as recited in claim 3 , wherein the at least one pre-filtration layer is a glass fiber pre-filtration layer.
5. The apparatus as recited in claim 2 , wherein the at least one removable multi-layered filter pack contains at least one bacteria retention layer.
6. The apparatus as recited in claim 5 , wherein the bacteria retention layer is a nanofiber membrane layer.
7. The apparatus as recited in claim 6 , wherein the nanofiber membrane layer is formed of an electrospun polymer resin.
8. The apparatus as recited in claim 7 , wherein the electrospun polymer resin is Polyacrylonitrile (PAN).
9. The apparatus as recited in claim 6 , wherein the nanofiber membrane layer includes a substrate made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
10. The apparatus as recited in claim 2 , wherein the at least one removable multi-layered filter pack contains at least one virus retention layer.
11. The apparatus as recited in claim 10 , wherein the at least one virus retention layer is a positively charged microporous media layer.
12. The apparatus as recited in claim 11 , wherein the positively charged microporous membrane layer includes a porous substrate with a cross-linked polymer coating.
13. The apparatus as recited in claim 12 , wherein the porous substrate of the at least one virus retention layer is made of glass fiber.
14. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein a cover is associated with the first chamber and the second chamber.
15. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the container includes a handle adjacent the first chamber and a spout associated with the second chamber.