Low spillage replaceable water filter assembly

Abstract

A filter assembly includes a water filter assembly having a filter element sealingly disposed in a cartridge, and having an inlet and an outlet, the water filter assembly being substantially dripless when charged with water and disposed substantially horizontally. A manifold assembly is fluidly couplable at an inlet to a source of water to be filtered and having a filtered water outlet and having mating members for removably mating to the water filter assembly and having a mounting means attached to said manifold providing rotational travel to the water filter assembly for installation, removal and replacement of the water filter assembly. A cartridge and a water distribution manifold assembly are further included.

1 . A manifold assembly for interfacing with a filter assembly and for being fluidly coupled to a source of water to be filtered, comprising: 
 a manifold having: 
 a physical interface with the filter assembly being a first portion of a ramp/tab interlock system;  
 a filter assembly fluid interface being an insertion plug with a plurality of o-rings, the insertion plug being matable with a bore in the filter assembly, the bore being in fluid communication with a filter assembly filtered water cavity of the filter element; and  
 a water source interface having at least one mechanically driven shut-off valves for incoming unfiltered water which are forced open when the filter assembly is mated to the manifold by means of the physical interface.  
   
     
     
         2 . The manifold assembly of  claim 1  having a plurality of molded flow channels to route incoming unfiltered water to the filter assembly and routing filtered water from the filter assembly for direction of the filtered water to a point of use.  
     
     
         3 . The manifold assembly of  claim 1  including a spill proof design having two mechanically driven valves located in contiguous unfiltered water supply channels.  
     
     
         4 . The manifold assembly of  claim 3  including the valves serving to prohibit the flow of unfiltered water prior to full disengagement of the filter assembly from the manifold.  
     
     
         5 . The manifold assembly of  claim 1  including a mounting bracket couplable to the manifold, the mounting bracket serving as a base to hold the manifold and the filter assembly in a substantially horizontal orientation.  
     
     
         6 . The manifold assembly of  claim 5 , the mounting bracket coupling with the manifold by a snap leg mechanism, the snap leg mechanism providing a quickly engageable and permanent coupling.  
     
     
         7 . The manifold assembly of  claim 5 , the mounting bracket including a set of swing arms and an angled body.  
     
     
         8 . The manifold assembly of  claim 7 , set of swing arms and an angled body allowing the mounting bracket and the water manifold and filter assembly, when mated to the mounting bracket, to be rotated downward a fixed amount to facilitate replacement of the filter assembly.  
     
     
         9 . The manifold assembly of  claim 1 , the manifold having two axial protrusions by which the manifold may be mounted and held in position.  
     
     
         10 . The manifold assembly of  claim 9 , the axial protrusions being solid rod type protrusions for insertion into a catch mechanism bore.  
     
     
         11 . The manifold assembly of  claim 9 , the axial protrusions each having a bores to accept a catch mechanism protrusion for supporting the manifold.  
     
     
         12 . The manifold assembly of  claim 9 , the axial protrusions being mounts for mounting a fixture cover.