Portable ozonation apparatus for storing and purifying liquid

(54) Title: PORTABLE OZONIZATION APPLIANCE FOR STORAGE AND PURIFICATION OF LIQUID (30) Unionist Priority: 07/08/2007 us 11 / 834,803 (73) Holder (s): Whirlpool Corporation (72) Inventor (s): Paul W Barnett, Timothy A. Kee (57) Abstract: portable ozonation device for STORAGE AND PURIFICATION OF LIQUID. The present invention relates to a portable ozone apparatus for storing and purifying liquids that includes a container provided with an opening for receiving a liquid and a treatment lid. The treatment lid is preferably detachably mounted next to the container at the opening. Preferably, the treatment cap includes a main body part that contains an electricity generating device and an ozone generating device. With such an arrangement, an unpurified liquid, such as water, is introduced into the container, the container is then inverted to bring the unpurified liquid into contact with the ozone generating device. At this time, the electricity generating device is activated to emit an electric current to the ozone generating device. Once activated, the ozone generating device produces ozone, which is introduced into the liquid in the container. Ozone gas transforms unpurified liquid into a purified liquid suitable for consumption.

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Descriptive ReportTnTPafêrffe of Invention for PORTABLE OZONIZATION APPLIANCE FOR STORAGE AND PURIFICATION OF LIQUID.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the technique of liquid deputation devices and, more particularly, to a portable ozonation device for storing and purifying liquids.

Description of the Related Art

Filtration and disinfection systems ^ are employed to provide purer, safer water for drinking and other uses. Most filtration systems used for camping and hiking are pump-style systems, which include several components that must be assembled before, and disassembled after, each use. For example, many pump-style systems require separate containers, multiple hoses and pumps that must be repeatedly connected before each use and disconnected before packaging them for travel. Many users find it difficult to obtain an adequate volume of water from such systems due to clogged filters. In addition, filters on such devices typically have a limited life cycle, resulting in significant costs associated with maintaining the systems. The need to replace filters is of primary importance in disaster-type situations, where drinking water and reserve filters are rare.

To obtain an adequate volume of safe drinking water, chemical disinfectants, such as iodine and chlorine, are frequently used. Therefore, chemical disinfectants can have a detrimental effect on the taste and smell of the fluid. Therefore, in order to provide an adequate water supply that is potable and attractive to the senses, other non-chemical methods of disinfection, such as ultraviolet radiation and ozonation, have become more popular recently. Unfortunately, such systems are not often designed for a user who travels, walks or performs any other activity that requires movement.

Ozone is one of the strongest oxidizing agents readily available and easily produced for use in fluid treatment. Ozone is useful for eliminating organic waste and reducing color, odor and total organic carbon. In addition, ozone eliminates bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms more effectively and faster than ultraviolet light or chemicals such as iodine and chlorine. Of course, the effectiveness of the ozone treatment, as well as the processing time required for treatment, is dependent on the quality of the fluid being treated. High levels of sediment in the fluid may contain high levels of metals, organic fluid and carbons, which may require a longer ozone treatment period.

Based on the above segment, despite the existence of water purification devices in the prior art, there is still a need in the art for an ozone purification system. More specifically, there is a need for an ozone purification system that is easily adapted for outdoor and transient environments and that can provide an adequate supply of drinking water that has a pleasant taste and smell.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a portable zoning device for storing and purifying liquids. The portable ozonation device includes a container with an opening for receiving liquid and a lid that includes a self-contained system for generating ozone. More specifically, the cover includes a main body part provided with an electricity generating device and an ozone generating device.

In addition, according to the invention, the electricity generating device includes an activation mechanism and an output terminal connected to the ozone generating device. The activation mechanism selectively establishes a flow of electricity through the output terminal to the ozone generating device. Preferably, the ozone generator device includes an outlet terminal and is detachably mounted to the main part of the cover body. More preferably, when the ozone generating device is properly attached, a circuit, which connects the input and output terminals, is completed. With this arrangement, unpurified liquid is introduced into the container. The container is inverted to make the non-purified liquid make contact with the lid and the ozone generating device. At this time, the electricity generating device is activated to generate an electric current for the ozone generating device. Once activated, the ozone generating device produces ozone, which is introduced into the container and diffused through the liquid. During a treatment period, ozone is transformed from an unpurified liquid into a purified liquid suitable for human consumption.

According to one aspect of the invention, the electricity generating device constitutes a manually operated generator by crank. When operated, the manually operated generator generates an electric current for the ozone generating device. In this way, the portable ozonation device does not require a separate power supply, such as a battery, thereby making the device extremely portable and adaptable to emergency situations. According to another aspect of the invention, the cap is provided with several threads designed to cooperate with corresponding threads supplied in standard beverage bottles, such as those formed from Nalgene®^-

Additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more evident from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when considered in conjunction with the drawings in which equal numerical references refer to the corresponding parts in the various views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a partial upper cross-sectional perspective view of a portable ozonation apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention; and

Figure 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the portable ozonation device of Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS ^ _

With initial reference to Figure 1, a ^ device ροιΙάίίΜθ ^ οζοηΗ)

A section for storing and disinfecting a fluid constructed in accordance with the present invention is generally indicated in ~ (2 '. The ozonation apparatus includes a ^ 4 receiver) and a ^ ozone generating system that is self-contained in the form of a removable lump for treatment. . The container 4 is preferably formed from plastic, such as Nalgene®, and includes a part of the packaging (1 ^) and a part of the side wall 12 ^ The side wall part 12 extends upwardly from the bottom wall part 10 to a threaded neck part 14 ^ which defines a cover 18 ^ In a manner known in the art, parts of the bottom and side walls and the neck 10, 12 and 14 define an interior treatment / storage area 19 to receive a fluid 21. Also shown in Figure 1, a handle 25 is provided on the side wall part 12 to enable a user to easily grasp container 4 and activate the apparatus ozonation 2 in a manner that will be more fully described below. Finally, a container 4 is shown to include an inscription on a scale or level 27, which allows a user to determine how much fluid 21 is present within the storage / treatment area 19. As will be discussed more fully below, the fluid 21 is initially a crude or non-potable fluid, therefore, after treatment, fluid 21 becomes a potable liquid suitable for consumption.

According to the invention, the treatment cap 8 includes a main part of the body 30 provided with an outer side wall 32 which includes a lower edge part 33 and a top wall 36 which defines an inner cavity 37. The part the lower edge 33 is provided with a variety of internal threads 40, which are adapted to engage in conjunction with the threaded neck part 14 of the container 4. The treatment cap 8 is also shown to include an electric power switch 44, which, as will be discussed more fully below, allows the activation of the ozonation apparatus 2.

In addition, according to the invention, the ozonation apparatus 2 includes an electricity generating device 54 mounted inside the treatment cap 8. The electricity generating device 54 preferably takes the form of a generator, which, in the modality shown, is operated by a hand crank 58. More specifically, upon activation of switch 44 and rotation of the hand crank 58, the electricity generating device 54 creates an electrical current that passes to an output terminal 61. Output terminal 61 preferably includes positive electrodes and negative (not separately labeled). Therefore, it must be understood that an electrode, for example, the negative electrode, can be provided elsewhere in the treatment cap 8.

Additionally, according to the invention, the 10 ozonation apparatus 2 includes an ozone generator 72 which is detachably mounted inside the cavity 37 of the treatment cover 8. The ozone generator 72 includes a main body 74 provided with a first or threaded part 75 and a second or flow part 76. The threaded part 75 includes an input terminal 79 which is adapted to engage with the output terminal 61 of the electricity generating device 54 when the ozone generator 72 is properly seated inside the treatment cap 8. The terminal Inlet 79 of the ozone generator 72 can include positive and negative electrodes or simply a single electrode with a second electrode, such as soil, which is provided by the threaded part20 of the upper 75.

The present invention enables a user to easily and quickly purify an amount of fluid 21 stored inside the container

4. More specifically, under the positioning of a quantity of fluid 21, such as unpurified water, inside the container 4, the treatment cover 8 is installed over the opening 18 with the ozone generator 72 extending into the storage / treatment area 19. At this point, container 4 is inverted, as shown in Figure 2, and switch 44 is activated. Once the switch 44 is in the on position, the hand crank 58 is rotated, causing the electricity generating device 54 to activate the ozone generator 72. Once it has been activated, the ozone generator 72 produces ozone gas, indicated by bubbles 100, through the flow part 76. The ozone gas then diffuses through the fluid 21. More specifically, ozone gas bubbles or diffuses through fluid 21, killing bacteria, microorganisms and the like to quickly transform fluid 21 into a potable liquid. At this point, it should be understood that the portable ozonition device built with the present invention provides a convenient device easily operated to purify a liquid, for emergency situations in camps and the like, without the need for chemical agents that may affect the taste and / or smell of the liquid.

Although described with reference to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood immediately that various changes and / or modifications can be made to the invention without departing from its spirit. For example, when describing the use of a manually cranked generator, several other electricity generating devices, such as batteries, can be used. In addition, while the treatment cover 8 is shown to include an activation switch 44, in the case of a manually cranked generator, the activation switch is not necessary, however, it merely serves as a redundant system to ensure that the ozonation device 2 is not inadvertently activated. Finally, while the container is described as being formed from plastic, several other materials, such as glass, stainless steel, aluminum and similar components, are also acceptable. In general, it is only intended that the invention be limited by the scope of the following claims.