Sanitizing filter system and method for a residential water filtering system

Abstract

A sanitizing filter for sanitizing a residential water filtering system has a water filter assembly including a cartridge operable for removable attachment to the water filter assembly. When the cartridge is attached to the water filter assembly, a water flow passes into the cartridge, mixes with sanitizing media within the cartridge, and passes back into the water filter assembly. The residential water filtering system is then filled and flushed repeatedly and the mixture of water and sanitizing media sanitizes the portions of the system that are downstream from the sanitizing filter.

1 . A sanitizing filter for sanitizing a residential water filtering system having a water filter assembly, the sanitizing filter comprising:
 a cartridge operable for removable attachment to the water filter assembly, the cartridge including:
 an annular inlet configured to connect to the residential filtering system; 
 an outer chamber connected between the annular inlet and a lower chamber; 
 an inner chamber located and connected between the lower chamber and an upper chamber, wherein water cannot pass directly between the inner chamber and the outer chamber; and 
 an upper nozzle located central to the annular inlet and connected to the upper chamber, the annular inlet configured to connect to the residential water filtering system; and 
   sanitizing media located within at least one of the following: the outer chamber; the inner chamber; the lower chamber; and the upper chamber,   wherein:   when the cartridge is attached to the water filter assembly, a water flow through the residential water filtering system distributes a mixture of the sanitizing media and the water, sanitizing a portion of the residential water filtering system.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The filter of  claim 1  wherein the sanitizing media is located in the inner chamber of the cartridge, wherein water flowing through the cartridge passes through the inner chamber to mix with the sanitizing media. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The filter of  claim 4  wherein the upper chamber is located adjacent to the inner chamber and the upper nozzle, the upper chamber configured to route water from the inner chamber into the upper nozzle. 
     
     
         8 . The filter of  claim 7  wherein a lower sediment pad divides the lower chamber and the inner chamber to filter water therebetween. 
     
     
         9 . The filter of  claim 8  wherein an upper sediment pad divides the inner chamber and the upper chamber to filter water therebetween. 
     
     
         10 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The filter of  claim 1 , wherein all water flowing through the cartridge passes from the annular inlet to the outer chamber, from the outer chamber into the lower chamber, from the lower chamber into the inner chamber, from the inner chamber into the upper chamber, from the upper chamber into the upper nozzle, from the upper nozzle into the residential water filtering system. 
     
     
         22 . The filter of  claim 1 , wherein the outer chamber is only fluidly connected to the inner chamber via the lower chamber. 
     
     
         23 . The filter of  claim 1 , wherein walls of the inner chamber fluidly seal the inner chamber from the outer chamber. 
     
     
         24 . The filter of  claim 1 , wherein the lower chamber is below the inner chamber and the upper chamber is above the inner chamber, the upper chamber being opposite the lower chamber.