Universal filter for soda pop and bottled water bottles

Abstract

Embodiments of a portable water filter are described and shown, each embodiment being adapted to fit and seal into a bottle neck without modification of, or attachment to, the bottle or its cap or other closure. The filter has a flange system that rests on the lip of the bottle neck and that has slanted or curved surfaces to seal with the neck and the bottle cap when the cap is screwed onto the bottle. The filter further includes a connector for attachment to a straw for an alternative use of the filter in a cup or mug. The filter water inlets are preferably in the lower region of the filter housing, to facilitate suctioning of the liquid from the bottom of the cup or mug even when the liquid level is low. Additional liquid inlet(s) may be added to the upper region of the filter housing, preferably sized and located to drain the last, small amount of liquid in the neck of a bottle when the bottle is inverted, without sucking in enough air in the mug-use application to interfere with adequate draining of the mug or cup.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:  
     
         1 . A filter assembly comprising: 
 a radial flow filter element comprising a cylindrical body of filtering material having a first end through which filtered water flows, and a second end opposite said first end;    a cylindrical housing having a housing top and a housing body having a top end and a bottom end for receiving said filter media, said housing bottom end having a smaller diameter than said housing top end so that there is a space between said filter element and said housing, wherein said housing top secures said housing body around said filter element; and    a drinking straw, wherein said filter media is operatively connected to said straw.    
     
     
         2 . The filter assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a stem extending from the top end of said housing top and in fluid communication with the filter element, said stem adapted for attachment to said straw to suction liquid from a liquid container.  
     
     
         3 . The filter assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising fluid inlets in the bottom ¼ to ⅓ of said housing body.  
     
     
         4 . The filter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said filter media is a carbon block.  
     
     
         5 . The filter assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising an umbrella valve positioned in the bottom of said housing body.  
     
     
         6 . A filter assembly in combination with a container having an open end opposite a bottom, said filter assembly comprising: 
 a radial flow filter element comprising a cylindrical body of filtering material having a first end through which filtered water flows, and a second end opposite said first end;    a cylindrical housing having a housing top and a housing body having a top end and a bottom end for receiving said filter media, said housing bottom end having a smaller diameter than said housing top end so that that is a space between said filter element and said housing, wherein said housing top secures said housing body around said filter element, said filter media first end operatively connected to a drinking straw, wherein said straw extends through the open end of said container.    
     
     
         7 . The filter assembly of  claim 6 , further comprising fluid inlets in the bottom ¼ to ⅓ of said housing body.  
     
     
         8 . The filter assembly of  claim 6 , wherein said filter media is a carbon block.  
     
     
         9 . The filter assembly of  claim 6 , further comprising an umbrella valve positioned in the bottom of said housing body.  
     
     
         10 . A method of filtering a liquid contained in a bottle having an open end, comprising: 
 providing a filter comprising a filter media and a housing having a top end and a bottom end for receiving said filter media, said housing further comprising a flange having a generally horizontal portion and a generally vertical portion;    inserting said filter into said bottle neck; and    securing said filter in said bottle neck by attaching a bottle tip closure having a lower surface to said open end of said bottle, wherein the horizontal portion of said flange extends between and forms a seal with the open end of said bottle and said bottle closure.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said flange further comprises a generally vertical portion having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein said outer surface has an area slanted outward from vertical to said horizontal portion for sealing with the open end of said bottle, wherein said inner surface of the flange has a radiused area for sealing with a lower surface of said bottle closure between the horizontal portion and the vertical portion.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said inner surface radiused area has a radius of about 0.125 inches.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said inner surface further has a slanted area at about 45 degrees from horizontal for sealing with the closure sealing ring.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said area slanted outward from vertical is slanted outward at about  15  degrees from vertical for sealing with the bottle neck.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the filter media is a carbon block.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the container substantially surrounds the filter media.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising a stem extending from said top end of said container in fluid communication with the filter media for connection to a straw.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said horizontal portion extends out past the outer diameter of said bottle neck.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the filter has one or more fluid inlets in the bottom ¼-⅓ of the container.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising at least one fluid inlet near the top end of the container.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said container further comprises an umbrella valve positioned in the bottom of said container.  
     
     
         22 . A method of filtering a fluid in a non-bottle shaped container, comprising: 
 providing a filter having bottom end and comprising 
 (a) a filter media,  
 (b) a housing having a top end and a bottom end for receiving said filter media, said housing further comprising a stem extending from the top end of said housing in fluid communication with said filter media, and  
 (c) a straw connected to said stem; and  
 inserting said bottom end of said filter into said non-bottle shaped container.  
   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said straw is inserted into said stem.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said stem is inserted into one end of said straw.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the filter has one or more fluid inlets in the bottom ¼-⅓ of said housing.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising an umbrella valve positioned in the bottom of said housing.  
     
     
         27 . A filter assembly connected to a straw drinking tube for use with a container full of a liquid comprising a filter casing and filter element that are both tube shaped, and in which there is a small pre-filtration chamber created by leaving a small void or gap of from about 0.05 to 0.10 inches between the outer diameter of said filter element and the inner diameter of said filter casing, wherein the filter assembly has a top end and a bottom end is entirely closed except for at least on vent positioned at said bottom end of the filter assembly, such that when there is a pressure differential or vacuum caused by a sucking action on the straw drinking tube, the liquid inside the container is drawn upwardly into said pre-filtration chamber through said at least one vent so as to first flood the entirety of the pre-filtration chamber, thereby establishing a liquid flow pattern in which siad liquid to be filtered flows evenly around the entire length of the outside diameter of said filter element regardless of the height of the level of the water inside of the container.