I finally figured out how to rig my Auquamira Frontier Pro to create a filtration system that works in both gravity mode and as a hydration system. Plus, it's under 5 ounces. I tested it out on Mt. Whitney a couple of weeks ago and am really happy with it. Here's a video about it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSYWoplv_Uo
_________________________ Gear Talk There's no such thing as having too many sporks!
Registered: 01/04/02
Posts: 1228
Loc: Eastern MA, USA
Jason-
Nice job on the video. I did a quick look at a review of the Aqua Mira filter. I'm surprised that it doesn't talk about the filter's removing bacteria or virii. It does say that the carbon filter removes foul tastes and odors. With that second piece of information, I'm thinking you could use the much cheaper chlorine bleach to kill bacteria and virii and save some $$ over the chlorine dioxide tablets or drops. That is, if you wished to do so. Chlorine dioxide's advantgages were that it tasted better and did a better job on the larger beasties that this filter does take out. Hmm!
Yes, they may have a patent on the filter but maybe not the way you use it. You could apply for a design patent but not a utility patent. I once invented a device that would hold a syringe needle so a nurse could recap avoiding contracting a disease etc. I spent several thousand dollars before I could get a medical company to pick up the idea and put into production. We had a patent attourney on retainer and even received our first royalty check. A few months went by and we were advised that the patent search turned up several similar devices and should drop the idea. About the same time the medical company decided to drop the device due to poor sales and offered us the molds and dies for several thousand dollars. I wasn't about to spend any more money and even lost the royalty check ($10.83). So my conclusion after jumping through all those creative hoops was, if you have a good idea for something either 1. forget about it or 2. put into production and hope someone doesn't sue you.
Registered: 01/10/06
Posts: 679
Loc: Central Texas
Chaz, Forget about it or put it in production ASAP. That's good advice. I've designed a number of items that have gone into production, but have not patented a single one. I am philosophically opposed to current patent law which now allows patents on "state of the art" ideas. "State of the art" means the best of what everyone is commonly doing. It is best understood as "the current state of the art." Patents once were allowed only on advances to the state of the art. New stuff. The same problem applies to copyright. You can copyright common phrases, songs and so forth that are part of the public domain. The system is nuts and tends to stiffle innovation instead of encouraging it. AAAAAAAAAAA!
I think the patent laws are designed for the benifit of the attoneys. You would think that they could do a patent search faster than 2-3 months. Take minibull designs for instance. He makes and sells his stuff. He may have come up with good ideas to the designs of stoves etc, but I don't think he was the first to come up with the basic idea. Seems that if you are thinking of a good idea, probably a thousand other minds are thinking about a similar idea. I was trying to form a start up electronic drum co a few years back and ran into the same problem. So many similar ideas on the net and all claim to have the newest and greatest. but in reality, they were only slightly different. Oh and Jason, I would buy your water filter setup if you decide to produce them. I researched the pieces and although your setup is lighter, by the time I put it all together I could just buy something commercial. So think about selling em. You wouldn't be infringing on the basic idea and you wouldbe using parts for sale by others anyway. What would be their complaint? I think it's time for Klass Designs to become a viable producer of lightweight Bpacking goods. And that goes for anyone else that can pull it off with a needed product. I have other ideas that could be marketed and some are variations I learned about on this site. The irony is that I've been PMed and called brilliant for something that someone else came up with. I did fess up though and didn't take credit for it. But the idea, even though not my own could still be marketed.
Nice job on the video. I did a quick look at a review of the Aqua Mira filter. I'm surprised that it doesn't talk about the filter's removing bacteria or virii. It does say that the carbon filter removes foul tastes and odors. With that second piece of information, I'm thinking you could use the much cheaper chlorine bleach to kill bacteria and virii and save some $$ over the chlorine dioxide tablets or drops. That is, if you wished to do so. Chlorine dioxide's advantgages were that it tasted better and did a better job on the larger beasties that this filter does take out. Hmm!
Regards,
CamperMom
Hi Campermom, Yes, some people have already suggested to me that bleach would work just as well. I think I'll try that when my tablets run out. Does the bleach taste weird? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />
_________________________ Gear Talk There's no such thing as having too many sporks!
Yes, they may have a patent on the filter but maybe not the way you use it. You could apply for a design patent but not a utility patent. I once invented a device that would hold a syringe needle so a nurse could recap avoiding contracting a disease etc. I spent several thousand dollars before I could get a medical company to pick up the idea and put into production. We had a patent attourney on retainer and even received our first royalty check. A few months went by and we were advised that the patent search turned up several similar devices and should drop the idea. About the same time the medical company decided to drop the device due to poor sales and offered us the molds and dies for several thousand dollars. I wasn't about to spend any more money and even lost the royalty check ($10.83). So my conclusion after jumping through all those creative hoops was, if you have a good idea for something either 1. forget about it or 2. put into production and hope someone doesn't sue you.
Planning my next escape...
Hey Chaz, I don't have that kind of money to even give it a shot so looks like I have to forget about it. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
_________________________ Gear Talk There's no such thing as having too many sporks!
Oh and Jason, I would buy your water filter setup if you decide to produce them. I researched the pieces and although your setup is lighter, by the time I put it all together I could just buy something commercial. So think about selling em. You wouldn't be infringing on the basic idea and you wouldbe using parts for sale by others anyway. What would be their complaint? I think it's time for Klass Designs to become a viable producer of lightweight Bpacking goods. And that goes for anyone else that can pull it off with a needed product. I have other ideas that could be marketed and some are variations I learned about on this site. The irony is that I've been PMed and called brilliant for something that someone else came up with. I did fess up though and didn't take credit for it. But the idea, even though not my own could still be marketed.
Planning my next escape...
Ha, ha. Thanks for the encouragement Chaz, but by the time I bought all the components, there's no way I could sell it for a price point that could make a good profit. I'd rather just have people make their own out of the components they alreay have and enjoy! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
_________________________ Gear Talk There's no such thing as having too many sporks!
I think it's time for Klass Designs to become a viable producer of lightweight Bpacking goods. And that goes for anyone else that can pull it off with a needed product. I have other ideas that could be marketed and some are variations I learned about on this site. The irony is that I've been PMed and called brilliant for something that someone else came up with. I did fess up though and didn't take credit for it. But the idea, even though not my own could still be marketed.
Actually, i have been toying with the idea. I even went so far as to contact some different manufacturing companies overseas to see what kind of price points i could sell the gear at. I have designed my own backpacks, quilts, and even tents (Tarptent Sub-Lite ring a bell?), and would love to do it just to sell some gear that I would actually buy myself, not to make a million dollars (Big Sky ring another bell?). I think we need to start a TLB co-op and design and build our own gear! We have members here that are expert lawyers, design, manufacturing and retail specialists, as well as sales reps. What are we all waiting for?
If you have the time you could build just a couple filters and put them up for sale. Then put the funds back into making a few more and viola, you would be in biz. Backorders are a good thing as long as people don't have to wait forever.
I think it's time for Klass Designs to become a viable producer of lightweight Bpacking goods. And that goes for anyone else that can pull it off with a needed product. I have other ideas that could be marketed and some are variations I learned about on this site. The irony is that I've been PMed and called brilliant for something that someone else came up with. I did fess up though and didn't take credit for it. But the idea, even though not my own could still be marketed.
Actually, i have been toying with the idea. I even went so far as to contact some different manufacturing companies overseas to see what kind of price points i could sell the gear at. I have designed my own backpacks, quilts, and even tents (Tarptent Sub-Lite ring a bell?), and would love to do it just to sell some gear that I would actually buy myself, not to make a million dollars (Big Sky ring another bell?). I think we need to start a TLB co-op and design and build our own gear! We have members here that are expert lawyers, design, manufacturing and retail specialists, as well as sales reps. What are we all waiting for?
It's a good idea and like Jason pointed out it takes capital to do it right. I have several ideas myself but are not new just a little different. I love the cottage industry style of producing and selling goods and keep the big boys out of it. Example, when I was in the music biz (many years) we hired music lawyers to shop us to major lables and blew a lot of OPM (other peoples money) to no aviale. We then decided to produce our own stuff and release it ourselfs with moderate success. It's still available for sale and a couple of tunes were picked up to replace music in a couple of old TV episodes. Google- Calculated X- (my 80's band) It would be fun and maybe profitable to start a TLB co-op. I would like to see my ideas and others for sale here. With a portion going to support this site. And maybe enough $$ to do R&D in the woods. Imagine, what a lifestyle.
Registered: 01/04/02
Posts: 1228
Loc: Eastern MA, USA
Quote:
[quote]Jason-
Hi Campermom, Yes, some people have already suggested to me that bleach would work just as well. I think I'll try that when my tablets run out. Does the bleach taste weird? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />
Hi, Jason-
If your home water is from a treated public source, you may well taste a bit of chlorine in it, unless you use a filter at home. Brita and others use a cartridge that contains carbon, among other things, to remove chlorine and lead, etc. The filter you chose mentions carbon as a component. It SHOULD take out the chlorine taste. Just be sure you are using plain chlorine bleach, not the newer scented stuff. BTW-the chlorine dioxide does leave some chlorine taste, just not as much as bleach.
Those using chemicals alone should use chlorine dioxide like Micropur to treat all 3 types of baddies: viruses, bacteria and protozoa/cysts.
OTOH, those who pair chemicals with a filter (e.g. Frontier Pro) should just use bleach to kill the first two types -- and rely on the filter to block out the third (larger and harder to kill) type. Why?
Cost Comparison - Treating 30 Quarts of Water
1. Micropur - 30 tablets (1 x 30) - $12.95 plus tax
A huge three-quart size bottle of bleach costs only $1.79 in a supermarket. 120 droplets thus cost essentially nothing!
Finally, the carbon element in Frontier Pro will remove bad taste in water -- including chemical tastes like chlorine (bleach) or chlorine dioxide (Micropur) -- so no problems treating with either.
Thanks for the link. Only problem is that the information on the AGG site is totally wrong. First of all, the Frontier Pro filters down to 2 microns, not 3 as stated. Second of all to effectively remove Cryptosporidium and Giardia, you need a pore size of 1 micron or smaller. So the Frontier Pro does NOT effectively remove them. That's why I use the chemicals in addition to the filter. I wouldn't trust the AGG one without adding chemicals.
The other thing I don't like about the AGG design is that it can ONLY be used as a gravity filter. Mine can be used as a gravity filter, in drinking straw mode, or as a hydration system so it's more versatile. I'm not saying the AGG is a bad design, just a different animal and not as effective in my opinion.
Edited by jasonklass (09/05/0805:29 PM)
_________________________ Gear Talk There's no such thing as having too many sporks!
Todd - The American Red Cross website states 16 drops of chlorine per gallon -- meaning 4 drops per liter or quart of water.
However, the EPA website shows a chart with different dosage for different kinds of bleach. Chlorox, for example -- has 5-6% chlorine -- so only 1-2 drops per liter or quart are needed.
For me, I'll stick with 4 drops of Chlorox -- for two reasons:
1. A stronger formula will be more effective in treating viruses and bacteria -- as well as the smaller sized protozoa/cysts. This way, the filter only needs to block out the bigger sized protozoa/cysts.
2. The filter's carbon element will remove any strong chlorine taste -- so no harm in using the stronger "Red Cross dosage".
The Frontier Pro pore size is 3.0 microns according to Cabela's product description (Aquamira itself is silent on this). Curious, where did you get your 2.0 micron info? Three micron is a pretty big pore size -- which is why we had our earlier discussion that the Frontier Pro should NOT be used alone -- but should be paired with chemicals -- like Micropur or Aqua Mira or bleach/chlorine.
Why does Aqua Mira not give the pore size on their website? They do say their microfilter removes 99.9% of Crypto and Giardia.
If YOU say their filter doesn't effectively remove those bugs, and you treat for 30 minutes before filtering as per your video, are you really treating long enough to kill crypto? No. I'd think the filtering could be removing the chemical from the water, so your chemical treatment time beyond 30 mins could not be relied upon. Your use of "big stuff" and "small stuff" is ambiguous.
With all due respect, using the term invention is best reserved for true inventions, not cutting up a bag to use as a scoop when it's been done by others for years. A ziplock freezerbag is lighter. The same goes for adding string to a platypus to use it upside down. Been done for years by others. Some of the talk of inventions and designs seem odd.
Quote:
Thanks for the link. Only problem is that the information on the AGG site is totally wrong. First of all, the Frontier Pro filters down to 2 microns, not 3 as stated. Second of all to effectively remove Cryptosporidium and Giardia, you need a pore size of 1 micron or smaller. So the Frontier Pro does NOT effectively remove them. That's why I use the chemicals in addition to the filter. I wouldn't trust the AGG one without adding chemicals.
The other thing I don't like about the AGG design is that it can ONLY be used as a gravity filter. Mine can be used as a gravity filter, in drinking straw mode, or as a hydration system so it's more versatile. I'm not saying the AGG is a bad design, just a different animal and not as effective in my opinion.
Your use of "big stuff" and "small stuff" is ambiguous.
John:
I was the one who suggested to Jason that he should pair the Frontier Pro with chemicals. With a 3.0 micron size (according to Cabela's product page of the Frontier Pro) -- the filter is nothing but A TOY. To me, any filter that can't even filter out bacteria reliably is a toy. Period.
However, as a comparison, a "do it all" filter like the First Need is bulky and heavy (15 ounces) -- as opposed to the Frontier's mere 2 oz. My idea was to pair up this "toy" with chemical treatment -- and take the best of both:
(1) use chemicals to kill/neutralize the tiny and easy-to--kill stuff like viruses and bacteria -- then...
(2) use the filter to block out the bigger stuff that would otherwise take chemicals a long time to kill (like giardia with their protective shells).
This combination effectively:
(1) shortens the wait time because the chemicals are not relied on to kill the biggest stuff -- and...
(2) reduces the need for a complex/bulky/heavy filter because it is not relied on to block the very smallest stuff
But to be fair, John, water treatment with any hand-held unit is always going to be both a science AND an art! This is why even fancy filter makers (MSR, Katadyn, etc.) always emphasize the need to find the best water source available! Is that not also ambiguous? As well, one has to be judgmental about treatment time -- depending on both water condition and water temperature (again an art to say the least). If you use chemicals, then you are already "guessing" at treatment time. It's no different at all from guessing how long to wait before passing the water through the Frontier Pro -- as in Jason's video. 30 minutes is merely an example.
Great ideas, would work well in a base camp or when I am out on the rare ocasion with my wife. Other wise too much stuff, weight and clutter. Give me some KLEER and a platy thats all. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />
_________________________
I miss my 4.8lb base weight as a ground dweller. But I sure don't miss the ground.
Why does Aqua Mira not give the pore size on their website? They do say their microfilter removes 99.9% of Crypto and Giardia.
If YOU say their filter doesn't effectively remove those bugs, and you treat for 30 minutes before filtering as per your video, are you really treating long enough to kill crypto? No. I'd think the filtering could be removing the chemical from the water, so your chemical treatment time beyond 30 mins could not be relied upon. Your use of "big stuff" and "small stuff" is ambiguous.
With all due respect, using the term invention is best reserved for true inventions, not cutting up a bag to use as a scoop when it's been done by others for years. A ziplock freezerbag is lighter. The same goes for adding string to a platypus to use it upside down. Been done for years by others. Some of the talk of inventions and designs seem odd.
Quote:
Thanks for the link. Only problem is that the information on the AGG site is totally wrong. First of all, the Frontier Pro filters down to 2 microns, not 3 as stated. Second of all to effectively remove Cryptosporidium and Giardia, you need a pore size of 1 micron or smaller. So the Frontier Pro does NOT effectively remove them. That's why I use the chemicals in addition to the filter. I wouldn't trust the AGG one without adding chemicals.
The other thing I don't like about the AGG design is that it can ONLY be used as a gravity filter. Mine can be used as a gravity filter, in drinking straw mode, or as a hydration system so it's more versatile. I'm not saying the AGG is a bad design, just a different animal and not as effective in my opinion.
YOU think the talk of inventions and designs see odd. Go tell that to Nike when they apply for a patent on a different design for the shape of the bottom of an athletic shoe. It's called a design patent. No one invented the wheel per se'. but there are thousands of patents for things that go round. BTW sorry for quoting the whole post. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />
Why does Aqua Mira not give the pore size on their website? They do say their microfilter removes 99.9% of Crypto and Giardia.
If YOU say their filter doesn't effectively remove those bugs, and you treat for 30 minutes before filtering as per your video, are you really treating long enough to kill crypto? No. I'd think the filtering could be removing the chemical from the water, so your chemical treatment time beyond 30 mins could not be relied upon. Your use of "big stuff" and "small stuff" is ambiguous.
With all due respect, using the term invention is best reserved for true inventions, not cutting up a bag to use as a scoop when it's been done by others for years. A ziplock freezerbag is lighter. The same goes for adding string to a platypus to use it upside down. Been done for years by others. Some of the talk of inventions and designs seem odd.
On the first point are you suggesting that after the 30 min. the filter removes the checmical and so any effects it would have had are negated? Whatever the chemical killed is already dead so even if the filter removes the chemical, it doesn't mean that it reverses it's effect. Maybe I'm misunderstanding your point?
On the second point, I'm not really interested in debating the semantics of the word "invention" in this thread. That's just the syntax I chose in the video which wasn't scripted or scrutinized for such details. You can substitute "invented by" for "suggested by" if you like. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
_________________________ Gear Talk There's no such thing as having too many sporks!
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