Modular multi-stage water filtration system

Abstract

A modular water filter system having a plurality of filter canister receptacles, each receptacle having a diverter valve for routing water into and out of the particular canister installed in the receptacle. The diverter valves are interconnected by water hoses such that water is sequentially filtered by flowing into the first diverter valve, through its installed filter canister, then to the second diverter valve and through its installed filter canister, and through the succeeding diverter valves and filter canisters to a final tap. The filter configuration, including filter type, filter quality, and filter sequence, is changed by simply installing different filter canisters into the diverter valves. An intermediate taps can be connected to the output of any diverter valve to provide the user with water filtered by that diverter valve's filter canister and all preceding filter canisters.

1 - 14 . (canceled)  
     
     
         15 . A water system, comprising: 
 a first water filter, having an input and an output;    a second water filter, having an input and an output;    a water path connecting the output of the first water filter to the input of the second water filter;    a tap-off connected to said water path;    a water faucet having a first feed input connected to said tap-off to be in fluid connection with said water path, a second feed input connected to be in fluid connection with the output of the second water filter, a faucet output, and a valve mechanism selectively changeable between an off mode, a first mode and a second mode, said off mode preventing water flow from bother said first feed input and said second feed input to said faucet output, said first mode establishing a fluid connection from said first feed input to said faucet output while preventing water flow from said second feed input to said faucet output, and said second mode establishing a fluid connection from said second feed input to said faucet output while preventing water flow from said first feed input to said faucet output.    
     
     
         16 . A water system according to  claim 15 , wherein said water faucet further includes a first lever movable between an open and a closed position, and a second lever movable between an open and a closed position, constructed and arranged such that moving both said first lever and said second lever to their respect closed positions causes said water faucet to be in said off mode, moving said first lever to its open position and said second lever to its off position causes said water faucet to be in said first mode, and moving said first lever to its off position and said second lever to its on position causes said water faucet to be in said second mode, 
 whereby a user can selectively move said first and said second lever to place said water faucet into its first mode and thereby obtain water filtered by said first water filter but not filtered by said second water filter, and to place said water faucet into its second mode and thereby obtain water successively filtered by said first water filter and by said second water filter.