Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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PUSH FILTER WITH FLOATING KEY LOCK
Background of the Invention
1. Field of the Invention:
[0001] This invention relates to a filtering apparatus, specifically a filter
housing apparatus to
facilitate easy removal and replacement of a filter housing from a mechanical
support, and more
specifically, to a push filter design that activates a floating key lock,
where the key may be used
simultaneously as a lock and as an identifier for particular filter
attributes. The mechanical support
may be situated inline, and in fluid communication, with influent and effluent
piping, such as within
a refrigerator. More specifically, the invention relates to a filter housing
and mount, whereby the
filter housing may be attached to, and removed from, the mount by a push-
actuated release. A
controlled attachment or detachment of the filter sump, containing the filter
media, is activated by
the axial push of the stunp towards the mechanical support The specific key
lock design allows a
user to identify and match certain filter configurations received by the
mechanical support, and
reject other filter configurations. An internal shutoff, activated by the push-
actuated release, blocks
spillage during filter housing removal and replacement
2. Description of Related Art:
[0002] The invention relates to a water filtration system having a locking and
unlocking
mechanism for changing the filter when the filter media has served its useful
life. The use of liquid
filtration devices is well known in the art as shown in U.S. Patent Nos.
5,135,645, 5,914,037 and
6,632,355. Although these patents show filters for water filtration, the
filters are difficult to replace
owing to their design and placement. For example, U.S. Patent No. 5,135,645
discloses a filter
cartridge as a plug-in cartridge with a series of switches to prevent the flow
of water when the filter
cartridge is removed for replacement. The filter must be manually inserted and
removed and have
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a switch activated to activate valve mechanisms so as to prevent the flow of
water when the filter
is removed. The cover of the filter is placed in the sidewall of a
refrigerator and is employed to
activate the switches that activate the valves. The filter access is coplanar
with the refrigerator wall
and forces an awkward access to the filter cartridge_
[0003] In U.S. Patent Application No. 11/511,599 filed on August 28, 2006, for
fluda, entitled:
"FILTER HOUSING APPARATUS WITH ROTATING FILTER REPLACEMENT
MECHANISM," a filter assembly having a rotator actuating mechanism including a
first internal
rotator and a second internal rotator is taught as an efficient way to insert,
lock, and remove the
filter housing from its base. A simple push mechanism actuates the self-
driving release and change
over means that hold and release the filter housing sump, and provide influent
shutoff to prevent
leaking and spillage. Rotational shutoff and locking mechanisms are activated
and released by axial
force on the filter housing at the commencement of the filter changing
procedure.
[0004] The instant invention is particularly useful as the water filtering
system for a refrigerator
having water dispensing means and, optionally, an ice dispensing means. The
water used in the
refrigerator or water and ice may contain contaminants from municipal water
sources or from
underground well or aquifers. Accordingly, it is advantageous to provide a
water filtration system
to reduce rust, sand, silt, dirt, sediment, heavy metals, microbiological
contaminants, such as
Giardia cysts, chlorine, pesticides, mercury, benzene, toluene, MTBE, Cadmium
bacteria, viruses,
and other known contaminants. Particularly useful water filter media for
microbiological
contaminants include those found in U.S. Patent Nos. 6,872,311, 6,835,311,
6,797,167, 6,630,016,
5,331,037, and 5,147,722, and are incorporated herein by reference thereto.
One of the uses of the
instant filter apparatus is as a water filtration apparatus for a
refrigerator. Refrigerators are
appliances with an outer cabinet, a refrigeration compartment disposed within
the outer cabinet and
having a rear wall, a pair of opposing side walls, at least one door disposed
opposite the rear wall,
a top and a bottom and a freezer compartment disposed in the outer cabinet and
adjacent to the
refrigeration compartment. It is common for refrigerators to have a water
dispenser disposed in the
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door and in fluid communication with a source of water and a filter for
filtering the water. Further,
it is common for refrigerators to have an ice dispenser in the door and be in
fluid communication
with a source of water and a filter for filtering the water. It has been found
that the filter assembly
of the instant invention is useful as a filter for a refrigerator having a
water dispenser and/or an ice
dispenser.
Summary of the Invention
[0005] The present invention is directed to, in a first aspect, a filter
cartridge assembly comprising:
a housing having a substantially cylindrical body, and a top portion for
forming a fluid-tight seal
with the body, the housing top portion including: an ingress port and an
egress port, each extending
vertically upwards from said filter cartridge housing top portion in a
direction parallel to an axial
center line of said filter cartridge assembly, wherein each of said ingress
port and egress port have
at least one portion or segment approximately cylindrical in cross-section,
including a first segment
forming a top portion of said ingress port and egress port, a third segment
adjacent said housing
top portion, and a second segment located between said first and third
segments having at least one
aperture or cavity for fluid flow, the first segment and third segment having
approximately a same
first diameter, and the second segment having a second diameter unequal to the
first diameter; and
a filter key located on the housing top portion for mating attachment to a
filter base, the filter key
having a filter key base with an exposed front face, exposed rear face, and
exposed side faces, and
comprising an extended finger including on one side a contacting portion
forming a first face
exposed in a first direction with respect to the housing top portion and an
adjacent side forming a
second face exposed in a second direction with respect to the housing top
portion, such that the first
and the second directions are not the same.
[0006] The filter cartridge assembly ingress and egress port second segments
may be formed in
an hourglass shape.
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[0007] The filter cartridge assembly ingress and egress ports may be
positioned along a chord line
that does not intersect the axial center of the housing top portion, such that
a diameter line traversing
perpendicularly through said chord line is dissected in unequal parts.
[0008] The filter cartridge assembly ingress and egress port second segment
cavities may be
exposed in a direction facing the filter key rear face.
[0009] The filter cartridge assembly may further comprise a printed circuit
board housing located
or connected to the housing top portion, or connected to or integral with the
filter key base, and the
printed circuit board housing may further be disposed adjacent to the filter
key. The printed circuit
board housing may include a recess cavity for receiving a printed circuit
board therein, and for
further securing said printed circuit board to the housing top portion.
Terminals may further be
disposed on the printed circuit board for electrical connection to said filter
cartridge housing on
one side, and electrical connection with electronics imbedded on an opposite
side.
[0010] In a second aspect, the present invention is directed to a filter
cartridge assembly
comprising: a housing having a substantially cylindrical body with an axial
center line, and a top
portion for forming a fluid-tight seal with the body, the housing top portion
including: an ingress
port and egress port extending from the housing top portion, each of said
ingress port and egress
port having a body with a top segment, a middle segment, and a bottom segment
adjacent to the
housing top segment and in fluid communication with said cylindrical body, the
ingress port and
egress port top segments having at least one seal at the junction with said
middle segments, and the
ingress port and egress port bottom segments having at least one seal at the
junction with said
middle segments, each of said seals having an outer surface first diameter,
and the ingress port and
egress port middle segments having an outer surface with a diametric extension
less than the ingress
port and egress port respective seal first diameters; and a filter key located
on or connected to the
housing for mating attachment to a filter base, the filter key comprising an
extended finger
including on one side a contacting portion forming a first angle in a first
direction with respect to
the housing top portion axial center line and an adjacent side forming a
second angle in the first
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direction with respect to the housing top portion axial center line, such that
the first angle and the
second angle are not equal, said contacting portion shaped for slidably
interacting with a filter base
attachment member.
[0011] The ingress port and egress port middle segments may be formed in an
hourglass shape.
5 [0012] The ingress port may further include a cavity on its body for the
passage of fluid and the
egress port may further include a cavity on its body for the passage of fluid,
and the ingress port
cavity and egress port cavity may both be exposed in a direction opposite the
filter key finger
contacting portion.
[0013] The ingress port and egress port may extend from anon-diameter chord
line of the housing
top portion.
[0014] The ingress port top segment and bottom segment and egress port top
segment and bottom
segment may be substantially cylindrical.
[0015] The filter cartridge assembly may further comprise a printed circuit
board housing for
connecting a printed circuit board to the housing top portion, and the printed
circuit board may be
further disposed adjacent to the filter key. The printed circuit board housing
may have a recess and
be disposed adjacent to and at least partially surrounding the filter key, and
the filter key may
extend partially into the printed circuit board recess. The printed circuit
board housing may be
formed in a substantially horseshoe shape.
[0016] In a third aspect, the present invention is directed to a filter
cartridge assembly comprising:
a housing having a substantially cylindrical body and a top portion for
forming a fluid-tight seal
with the body, the housing top portion having an axial center and further
including: an ingress port
and egress port extending from the housing top portion, each of said ingress
port and egress port
having a body with a top segment, a middle segment, and a bottom segment
adjacent to the housing
top segment and in fluid communication with said cylindrical body, the ingress
port and egress port
top segments having at least one seal at the junction with said middle
segments, and the ingress
port and egress port bottom segments having at least one seal at the junction
with said middle
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segments, each of said seals having an outer surface first diameter, and the
ingress port and egress
port middle segments having an outer surface with a diametric extension less
than the ingress port
and egress port respective seal first diameters, such that the ingress port
middle segment and egress
port middle segment are fonned in an hourglass shape; a filter key located on
or connected to the
housing for mating attachment to a filter base, the filter key comprising an
extended finger
including on one side a contacting portion forming a first angle in a first
direction with respect to
the housing top portion and an adjacent side forming a second angle in the
first direction with
respect to the housing top portion, such that the first angle and the second
angle are not equal; an
electronic circuit component housing disposed adjacent to the filter key and
having a recess for
receiving an electronic circuit component therein, and for further connecting
said electronic circuit
component to the housing top portion, said electronic circuit component
housing located on or
connected to the filter cartridge assembly housing; and a cavity on the
ingress port second width
for the passage of fluid, and a cavity on the egress port second width for the
passage of fluid, the
ingress port cavity and egress port cavity exposed in a direction facing away
from the printed circuit
board.
[0017] The filter cartridge assembly ingress and egress ports may extend from
a non-diameter
chord line of the housing top portion.
[0018] The filter cartridge assembly electronic circuit component may be a
printed circuit board.
[0019] The filter cartridge assembly electronic circuit component housing may
at least partially
surround the filter key, and the filter key may extend partially into the
electronic circuit component
housing recess. The electronic circuit component housing recess may further
include terminals
disposed therein for connecting said printed circuit board to said filter
cartridge assembly housing.
[0020] It is an object of this invention to provide a filter housing apparatus
mounted to a base and
having an automatic locking mechanism for simple replacement and removal.
[0021] It is an object of this invention to provide a filter housing apparatus
and base attached by
a push activated, slideably moveable, floating lock.
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[0022] It is another object of this invention to provide a filter housing
apparatus mounted on a
surface having non-rotating locking means with pressure activation for
replacement and removal.
[0023] It is another object of the present invention to provide a filter
housing apparatus that allows
for a keyed identification of the filter.
[0024] It is a further object of this invention to provide a filter housing
apparatus for use with
water dispensing anchor ice dispensing apparatus whereby filtered water is
provided to the water
dispensing and/or ice dispensing apparatus.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0025] The features of the invention believed to be novel and the elements
characteristic of the
invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The figures
are for illustration
purposes only and are not drawn to scale. The invention itself, however, both
as to organization
and method of operation, may best be understood by reference to the
description of the
embodiment(s), which follows, taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings in which:
[0026] HG. 1A is a top exploded view of one embodiment of the filter assembly
of the present
invention.
[0027] HG 1B is a side plan view the embodiment of the filter housing assembly
of FIG, 1A.
[0028] FIG. 1C depicts a perspective view of the filter housing assembly with
strengthening ribs
extending at least partially down the outer surface of the filter housing.
[0029] FIG. 2A is a perspective view of one embodiment of the filter key of
the present invention.
[0030] HG. 2B is a lateral side view of the filter key of FIG. 2A,
[0031] FIG. 2C depicts a bottom plan view of the filter key of FIG_ 2A showing
a groove and a
locking nub or tab for attachments.
[0032] FIG. 2D depicts a perspective view from the opposite side of the filter
key of FIG. 2C.
[0033] FIG. 2E depicts a bottom view of the filter key of FIG. 2A.
[0034] FIG. 2F is a longitudinal side view of the filter key of FIG. 2A.
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[0035] FIG. 2G depicts a slotted groove which includes a wider upper portion
for securely affixing
the filter key to the filter head or filter manifold.
[0036] FIG. 211 is a side view of the filter key depicting an angled, ramp
segment, which at least
partially extends the length of the bottom surface of the filter key.
[0037] FIG. 21 depicts the complementary angled ramp segment for the filter
key of FIG. 2H.
[0038] FIG. 2J depicts a side view of a partial section of the filter head
showing a mating
protrusion for interlocking with the slotted groove on the filter key, and
complementary angled
ramp segments for interlocking with the ramp segments on the filter key bottom
edges.
[0039] FIG. 3A depicts a perspective view of one embodiment of the floating
lock or sliding lock
of the present invention.
[0040] FIG. 3B is a perspective view from the opposite side of the floating
lock of FIG. 3A.
[0041] FIG. 3C is a lateral side view of the floating lock of HG 3A.
[0042] FIG. 3D depicts a top view of the floating lock of FIG. 3A
[0043] FIG. 3E depicts cross-sectional longitudinal side view of the floating
lock of FIG. 3A.
[0044] FIG. 4A is a perspective view of one embodiment of the filter manifold.
[0045] FIG. 4B is a top plan view of a second embodiment of the filter
manifold with an extension
support member.
[0046] FIG. 4C is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the filter
manifold.
[0047] FIG. SA is a side view of one embodiment of the filter head of the
present invention.
[0048] FIG. 5B is a bottom perspective view of the filter head of FIG 5A.
[0049] FIG. 5C is a top perspective view of the filter head of HG. SA.
[0050] FIG. SD is another embodiment of the filter head with a snap fit lock
for the filter key.
[0051] FIG. SE is a bottom perspective view of the filter head of FIG. 5D.
[0052] FIG. 5F is a top perspective view of the filter head depicting the
aperture for receiving the
filter key.
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[0053] HG. 5G depicts a one-piece or integrated filter head/filter manifold
construction having
ingress and egress ports for fluid flow.
[0054] FIG. 5H is a side view of the integrated, one-piece filter head of FIG.
5G.
[0055] HG. 51 is a bottom view of the integrated, one-piece filter head of
FIG. 56, depicting an
off axial center cylinder for receiving an end cap port of the filter
cartridge.
[0056] FIGS. 6A and 6B are exploded views of a second embodiment of the filter
assembly of the
present invention, showing a filter key having an extended boss.
[0057] FIG. 7A is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the filter key of
the present
invention having an extended boss.
[0058] HG. 7B is a bottom perspective view of the filter key of FIG. 7A.
[0059] FIG. 7C depicts a top plan view of the filter key of FIG. 7A_
[0060] HG. 7D depicts a side plan view of the filter key of HG 7A.
[0061] HG. 7E depicts an end or lateral side view of the embodiment of the
filter key of HG 7A,
showing the boss rising above the plane created by the fingers, and two wings
extending laterally
outwards from the boss.
[0062] HG. 7F is a perspective view of another embodiment of the filter key of
the present
invention showing a locking nub located on the bottom portion on a lateral
side.
[0063] HG. 8A depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of the floating lock
of the present
invention.
[0064] HG. 8B is a top view of the floating lock of HG. 8A.
[0065] FIG. SC is a cross-sectional view of the floating lock of HG SA
depicting a drive key
located at one end of the floating lock on the longitudinal or side panel.
[0066] FIG. 8D depicts an exploded view of the drive key of FIG. 8C showing
the edge angle and
face.
[0067] HG. 8E depicts a perspective view of a floating lock having an
extension member.
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[0068] FIG. 8F is a side view of the floating lock of FIG. 8E having an
extension member.
[0069] FIG. 8G is a lateral or cross-sectional view of the floating lock of
FIG. 8E with an extension
member.
[0070] HG. 9A is a perspective view of a non-floating port of the present
invention.
5 [0071] HG. 9B is a top plan view of the non-floating port of FIG_ 9A.
[0072] FIG. 10A is a top plan view of one embodiment of the rear plate of the
present invention.
[0073] FIG. 10B is a bottom perspective view of the rear plate of FIG. 10A.
[0074] FIG. 10C is a top plan view of a second embodiment of the rear plate of
the present
invention.
10 [0075] HG. 11 is an exploded view of a filter assembly of the present
invention, showing a filter
key having a boss, connected to a filter manifold having extension supports.
[0076] HG. 12A is a front elevational view of another embodiment of a filter
assembly of the
present invention.
[0077] HG. 12B is a front top perspective view of the filter assembly of FIG.
12A.
[0078] HG. 12C is a rear top perspective view of the filter assembly of FIG.
12A.
[0079] HG. 12D is a rear elevational view of the filter assembly of FIG. 12A.
[0080] FIG. 12E is a partial, expanded rear top perspective view of the filter
assembly of FIG.
12A.
[0081] HG. 13A is a front top perspective view of a filter key used with the
filter assembly
embodiment of FIG. 12A.
[0082] HG. 13B is a rear perspective view of the filter key of FIG. BA.
[0083] HG. 13C is a side elevational view of the filter key of FIG_ 13A.
[0084] HG. 14A is atop-down view of an embodiment of the filter assembly of
FIG 12A, with a
printed circuit board directly affixed to the filter housing top portion
without a PCB housing.
[0085] FIG. 14B is a partial perspective view of the filter assembly
embodiment of FIG. MA.
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[0086] FIG. 14C is a partial front elevational view of the filter assembly of
FIG 14A.
[0087] FIG. 14D is a partial side elevational view of the filter assembly of
FIG. 14A.
Detailed Description of the Embodiment(s)
[0088] In describing the embodiment(s) of the present invention, reference
will be made herein to
FIGS. 1 to 13 of the drawings in which like numerals refer to like features of
the invention. Features
of the invention are not necessarily shown to scale.
[0089] The present invention is directed to a filter housing assembly for
filtration of liquids,
including the interception of chemical, particulate, and/or microbiological
contaminants. The use
of the mechanical locking assembly of the filter housing without the need for
excess force and tight
tolerances essential in prior art filter housings makes for easy and frequent
filter changes and
optimal filter performance. The filter housing assembly of the present
invention provides simplified
filter changes to minimize process downtime and without recourse to tools. A
simple push
mechanism actuates the self-driving release and change over means that hold
and release the filter
housing sump or filter cartridge, and provides influent shutoff means to
prevent leaking and
spillage. A floating lock or sliding lock responsive to an axial insertion
force from the filter
cartridge moves perpendicular or radially to the axial motion of the sump, and
allows a specific
connector piece or filter key to insert within the floating lock. Once
inserted, the floating lock
retracts towards its original position under a resilient force, such as two
springs in tandem, or other
complementary resilient mechanism keeping the floating lock under retraction
tension when moved
from its initial position. The filter key and floating lock combination allows
for the identification
of specific filter models and may be configured to reject all but specific
filter types.
[0090] Removal of the filter cartridge is performed in the same manner. An
axial insertion force
causes the floating lock to move orthogonally, which allows the filter key to
be removed from the
floating lock. An extraction force provided by spring tension, or the like,
helps push the filter
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cartridge out of its base. Fluid shutoff and locking mechanisms are initiated
by the axial force on
the filter cartridge at the commencement of the filter changing procedure.
[0091] The present invention is described below in reference to its
application in connection with,
and operation of, a water treatment system. However, it should be apparent to
those having ordinary
skill in the art that the invention may be applicable to any device having a
need for filtering liquid.
[0092] FIG. IA is a top exploded view of an embodiment of the filter assembly
of the present
invention. The filter assembly is fixably secured in a position within an
operating environment
requiring fluid filtration, such as attached to an internal sidewall of a
refrigerator, although certainly
other operating environments may be envisioned, and the filter assembly may be
used in any
number of environments where the filter assembly has access to, and can be
placed in fluid
communication with, influent and effluent fluid access ports. For illustrative
purposes only,
application to the filtering of water being piped into a refrigerator is
discussed.
[0093] A filter housing assembly 200 comprises the removable, detachable
filter cartridge or sump
of the filter assembly from a filter base 100. Filter housing assembly 200
includes a filter housing
1, which encloses filter media 8, a filter head 2 that attaches at one end to
filter housing 1, and
attaches at the other end to a filter manifold 3 and non-floating port 11. A
connector piece or filter
key 5 is attached to filter manifold 3. Filter base 100 includes non-floating
port 11 having a base
platform 1104, floating lock 12, and rear plate 13. Filter head 2 secures in a
water-tight fit to filter
housing 1. The attachment scheme may be made by a water-tight screw fit, bond,
weld, or other
water-tight fastening mechanism commonly used in the art for sealing adjoining
components,
typically adjoining plastic components. As discussed in further detail below,
filter key 5 is
connected to filter manifold 3. Filter key 5 may be formed as one piece with
filter manifold 3, or
may be securely attached by other methods, such as bonding, welding, press
fit, friction fit, or the
like. Filter key 5 may also be removably attached for replacement by an end
user. Filter manifold
3 is attached to filter head 2. Filter media 8 is located in filter housing 1.
Each end of filter media
8 is secured by a cap that facilitates the direction of the fluid being
treated by the filter. At one end,
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filter media 8 is secured by a closed end cap 7, and at the other end by open
end cap 6. Filter media
8 may be any filter media known in the art, and preferably, is a carbon block
filter. It is typically
shaped in a similar fashion as filter housing 1, which in an embodiment is
cylindrical. Open end
cap 6 is designed to interface and be in fluid communication with filter head
2.
[0094] In another embodiment, filter housing 1 may include strengthening ribs
16 longitudinally
located on the filter housing outer surface. FIG. 1C depicts a perspective
view of filter housing
assembly 200 with a row of strengthening ribs extending at least partially
down the outer surface
of filter housing 1. Strengthening ribs 16 also function as a guide for
inserting filter housing
assembly 200 into a shroud (not shown) that may be part of the installation
assembly for ensuring
proper alignment with filter base 100. Strengthening ribs 16 is preferably
integral with filter
housing 1, but may also be attachable as a separate component part. Ribs 16
may extend the full
length of filter housing 1, or as shown, may extend to an intermediate point
between filter housing
assembly 200 end caps 6, 7.
[0095] Filter housing assembly 200 is a finished assembly including filter
housing 1, which
encompasses filter media 8 by closed end cap 7 at one end, and open end cap 6
at the other.
Generally, o-ring seals, such as o-ring seal 9, are used to prevent water
leakage where different
components are expected to mate. Filter manifold 3 and filter key 5 are joined
with filter head 2,
and secured to filter housing 1 to form the assembled filter housing apparatus
200. These
components may be integral, permanently secured, or removably attached to one
another, and to
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filter head 2. FIG. 1B is a side plan view of an embodiment of the filter
assembly of the present
invention.
[0096] FIG. 2A is a perspective view of connector piece or filter key 5.
[0097] FIG. 2B is a lateral side view of filter key 5. As previously noted,
the bottom of filter key
5 is attached to filter manifold 3 by any number of fastening schemes, or may
be integrally formed
with filter manifold 3.
[0098] HG. 2C depicts a groove 51 that is preferably shaped to receive a
complementary
protrusion on filter manifold 3, and is preferably shaped to receive a
dovetail protrusion; however,
other connecting, complementary shapes are not excluded.
[0099] For example, FIG. 2G depicts a slotted groove 51b that is not a
dovetail joint. Slotted
groove 51b may include a wider upper portion 51c to more securely affix filter
key 5 to filter
manifold 3. The connection of filter key 5 with filter manifold 3 may be
bonded, sonic welded,
press fitted, friction fitted, or the like. Moreover, filter key 5 may be
integral with filter manifold
3. Similarly, filter manifold 3 may be bonded, sonic welded, press fitted,
friction fitted, or integral
with the filter housing top portion. As depicted in the illustrative
embodiment, groove 51 is shaped
to accept a snap feature for a press or snap fit located on filter manifold 3.
In this manner filter key
5 may be removably attached to filter manifold 3. Similarly, filter manifold 3
may be designed to
be removably attached to filter head 2. Thus, the design has more flexibility
to introduce and
accommodate different key configurations, which can be used to designate
specific filter types, and
purposely reject other filter types. Additionally, filter key 5 may include an
angled, ramp segment
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59aon at least its bottom edges where filter key 5 slidably mates with the top
surface of filter
manifold 3 or filter head 400.
[00100] FIG. 211 is a side view of filter key 5 depicting angled ramp segment
59a, which at least
partially extends the length of the bottom surface of filter key 5. Angled
ramp 59a is located at one
5 end of the bottom edges of filter key 5 and extends into the filter key
main body 5a.
[00101] FIG. 21 depicts a perspective view of filter head 400 with
complementary angled ramp
segments 59b for mating with angled ramp segments 59a of filter key 5. Angled
ramp segment 59a
matably adjoins complementary angled ramp segment 59bto interlock and assist
in securing filter
key 5 to filter head 400. For the two piece design utilizing filter manifold
3, complementary angled
10 ramp segments 59b are formed on the top surface of filter manifold 3.
[00102] HG. 2J depicts a side view of a partial section of filter head 400
showing mating
protrusion or rail 321 for interlocking with slotted groove 51b, and
complementary angled ramp
segments 59b.
[00103] HG. 4A depicts a perspective view of the one embodiment of filter
manifold 300. Port
15 310 is shown off center of filter manifold 300. FIG. 4A depicts the
filter manifold without extension
support members. Preferably, port 310 is an outlet port; however, the present
invention is not
limited to a specific ingress and egress location, and may have these ports
interchanged. When port
310 is used as an egress or outlet port, filter manifold 300 takes fluid from
filter media 8 through
the center port of open cap 6, and directs fluid flow radially outwards from
the axial center to port
310. In this embodiment, the ingress port is located on filter head 2. By
locating the ingress and
egress ports off axis, filter housing assembly 200 has a more robust design,
with enhanced structural
integrity for mounting to the filter base, and for remaining fixably in place
during attachment.
[00104] Referring to FIGS. 4A-4C, in a preferred attachment scheme for filter
key 5, a protrusion
or rail 32 or 320 is formed on or near the center line of filter manifold 3 or
300. Protrusion or rail
32 or 320 is preferably a rectangular shaped segment extending above circular
center portion 33 or
330. Protrusion or rail 32 allows for precise alignment of filter key 5, while
providing a robust
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connection. Preferably, a dovetail shape, press fit, or friction fit
interconnection between protrusion
32 and groove 51 of filter key 5 permits the user to remove and replace filter
key 5. This allows for
the designation of specific filter keys, and correspondingly, specific filter
cartridges. Protrusion or
rail 32, 320 may be integrally formed with filter manifold 3 or 300,
respectively, and filter manifold
3 may be integrally formed with the filter housing top portion. Or these
components may be
separately fabricated and attached by bond, weld, press fit, friction fit, or
other suitable means
known in the art. Preferably, protrusion or rail 32, 320 has a dovetail shaped
surface for slidably
mating with complementary groove 51 of filter key 5.
[00105] In the embodiment depicted by FIGS. 4B and 4C, protrusion 32 may be on
an extension
support 34. FIG. 4B depicts a top level view of filter manifold 3, showing
extension support 34
extending longitudinally or radially outward from center portion 33, along a
radius. Extension
support 34 supports optional shroud 4 that covers and protects filter head 2.
Filter manifold 3 or
300 seats within and attaches to filter head 2.
[00106] FIG. 5A depicts a side view of one embodiment of filter head 2. Filter
head 2 is shown
with off-center port 21. In this manner, port 21 of filter head 2 and port 31
of filter manifold 3 are
both off-center and parallel to one another about a plane that approximately
intersects the center
point of filter head 2. As shown in FIGS. 1, 4, and 5, a recessed portion 22
formed about the center
point of filter head 2 receives center portion 33 of filter manifold 3. If
extension support 34 is used
with filter manifold 3, when filter manifold 3 is inserted within filter head
2, extension support 34
is situated approximately perpendicular to the plane formed by ports 21 and
31. Extension support
34 provides at each end a snap fit design for shroud 4.
[00107] HG. 5B is a bottom perspective view of the filter head.
[00108] HG. 5C is a top perspective view of filter head 2 depicting recess
portion 22.
[00109] Filter head 210 depicts another embodiment as shown in FIGS. 5D-5F. In
this
embodiment, as depicted in the top perspective view of FIG 5F, on the top
surface of filter head
210 is a curved receiving boss or support member 230 located on one side of
the center point, and
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two parallel, lateral support members 240a,b located opposite curved boss 230
on the other side of
the center point of filter head 210. These structural support members are used
to align filter key 5
to filter head 210, and help secure filter key 5. This filter head may be used
in conjunction with the
filter manifold 300 without extension supports, as depicted in FIG. 4A.
Structural support member
230 provides a physical stop for filter key 5, which typically slides on
protrusion 32 provided by
filter manifold 300. Lateral support members 240a,b are used to align filter
key 5, and prevent it
from inadvertent shifting FIG. 5E is a bottom perspective view of filter head
210. HG 5D is a side
view of filter head 210.
[00110] In another embodiment, filter head 2, 210 may be integral with filter
manifold 3, 310,
such as for example, a one piece construction in the form of a single injected
molded piece, or a
two piece construction with filter manifold 3,310 welded, fused, or otherwise
permanently attached
to filter head 2, 210 as a subassembly.
[00111] FIG. 5G depicts a one-piece or integrated filter head / filter
manifold construction 400
having ingress and egress ports 410a,b. Protrusion 420 is preferably a shaped
segment extending
above, and off axis from, the circular center of filter head 400. Protrusion
420 allows for precise
alignment of filter key 5, while providing a robust connection. A dovetail
shape, press fit, or friction
fit interconnection between protrusion 420 and groove 51 of filter key 5
permits the user to remove
and replace filter key 5. FIG.
[00112] 511 is a side view of integrated, one-piece filter head
400.Cylindrical wall 424 is sized to
receive the open end cap 6 of filter housing 1. Cylindrical wall 426 is off
the axial center of filter
head 400 and is configured to receive the center axial port of end cap 6,
redirecting fluid flow off
the axial center such that port 410b is within cylinder 426, and port 410a is
outside of cylinder 426.
This redirection of fluid flow performs a similar function as filter manifold
3, 310 without the need
of aligning the center axial port of end cap 6 with a filter manifold
aperture.
[00113] HG. 51 is a bottom view of the integrated, one-piece filter head of
FIG. 5G, depicting off
axial center cylinder 426 for receiving a port of open end cap 6 of the filter
cartridge. A comparison
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to FIGS. 5B and 5E which depict perspective views of the underside of filter
head 2, 210
respectively, with FIG. 51, demonstrates the absence of an axially centered
cylinder for receiving
the port from open end cap 6 in the integrated filter head 400 design.
[00114] Filter manifold 300 includes an off-center port 310, as well as a
center portion 330 that
fits securely within recess 220 of filter head 210. Protrusion 320 receives
the groove from filter key
5. In this embodiment, when filter key 5 is slidably inserted within
protrusion 320, structural
support member 230 and lateral structural support members 240a,b secure filter
key 5. The curved
portion of structural support member 230 forces filter key 5 to be inserted in
one direction only.
An added boss 232, located on the top of filter head 210 and centered between
lateral support
members 240a,b may be employed to serve as a lock or snap fit for filter key
5. Additionally, in
another embodiment, structural support member 230 may be formed with a small
aperture 235
located directly away from the center point of filter head 210 at its base
where support member 230
meets the top portion of filter head 210. This small aperture 235 is designed
to receive a protruding
material or locking nub or tab 53 placed at, or formed with, the corresponding
end portion of filter
key 5 on the lower end of a lateral side. Locking nub or tab 53 on filter key
5 is inserted within
small aperture 235 on the curved portion of structural support member 230 and
prevents axial
removal of filter key 5 away from filter head 210. FIGS. 2A-2F show locking
nub 53 located on
the bottom portion of a lateral side of filter key 5. FIG. 5D is a side view
of filter head 210 depicting
aperture 235 for receiving filter key 5.
[00115] Filter key 5 includes at least one laterally extending finger 52, and
preferably a plurality
of extending fingers, as depicted in FIGS. 2A-2F. FIG. 2C is a bottom
perspective view of filter
key 5. In a first illustrative embodiment, filter key 5 is shown with ten
laterally extending fingers
52. Fingers 52 are preferably constructed of the same material as, and
integrally formed with, base
55 of filter key 5. However, the fingers may also be removably attached, and
the filter key design
is not limited to an integrally formed construction. The laterally extending
fingers 52 may form a
number of different configurations. In the illustrative embodiment, there is a
uniform gap 54
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between each finger 52. In other configurations, a finger may be missing on
one or both sides of
filter key 5, and gap 54 may be wider in some places than in others, Using a
digital 1, 0 designations
to indicate a finger (1) or a gap (0), it is possible to have many different
configurations for a filter
key. The configuration as shown in FIG. 2E would be designated on each side as
101010101. As a
separate example, for a designation of 100010101, this would represent a
lateral finger (1) followed
by a wide gap (000), and then a finger (1) followed by a gap (0) and a finger
(1) followed by another
gap (0), and one last finger (1). The present invention is not limited to any
particular finger/gap
order. Additionally, it is not necessary for the finger/gap configuration on
one side of filter key 5
to be symmetric with the finger/gap configuration on the opposite side. By
having different
finger/gap configurations, it is possible to make a mechanical key identifier
for the specific filter
housing assembly being employed. Filter key 5 may also be color-coded to
facilitate identification
for different filter cartridges or housing assemblies. It may also be
textured, mirrored, transparent,
translucent, materially modified, or having a conductively signature, or any
combination thereof,
for identification purposes. More importantly, aside from identification of
the filter housing
assembly, a particular filter key finger/gap configuration will only allow for
the use of a specific
filter housing assembly in a given system.
[00116] Fingers 52 of filter key 5 are strength bearing members, used to mate
with, or interlock
with, corresponding drive keys 123a,b located on longitudinal sides of
floating lock 12 as depicted
in FIG. 3. There must be at least one drive key on floating lock 12 that
corresponds to, and lines up
with, at least one finger on filter key 5, so that when filter key 5 is
inserted to mate with floating
lock 12, the drive keys slidably contact the fingers and floating lock 12 is
shifted longitudinally an
incremental amount to allow fingers 52 on filter key 5 to traverse between the
gaps 122 on floating
lock 12. Once fingers 52 have passed between the corresponding gaps on
floating lock 12, which
is slidably restrained under tensional forces, floating lock 12 is partially
returned towards its
original position by the tensional retraction forces so that at least one
finger on filter key 5 aligns
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or interlocks with at least one drive key on floating lock 12, and the
alignment resists any direct
outward, axial extraction forces.
[00117] Each finger 52 of filter key 5 includes a slanted face 58 as depicted
in FIGS. 2A and 2F.
These angled features are made to slidably contact complementary slanted edge
or angled features
5 121a,b of drive keys 123a,b of floating lock 12 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3E.
During insertion of
filter key 5, the sliding contact of the angled feature of the filter key's
fingers transversely shifts
floating lock 12 off of its initial position, and allows the fingers of filter
key 5 to be inserted within
gaps 122 between the drive keys 123a,b.
[00118] A perspective view of floating lock 12 is depicted in FIGS. 3A and 3B.
Floating lock 12
10 has angled-faced fingers, protrusions, or drive keys 123a,b and gaps 122
that may reciprocally
correspond to fingers 52 and gaps 54 located on filter key 5. It is not
necessary for the drive key/gap
configuration of floating lock 12 to be exactly complementary to the
finger/gap configuration of
filter key 5. It is only necessary that floating lock 12 is able to fully
receive the inserting filter key
5 when filter housing assembly 200 is axially inserted into filter base 100.
Each drive key 123a,b
15 of floating lock 12 is shaped with a receiving wedge 129a,b,
respectively, opposite slanted edge
121a,b to capture fingers 52 of filter key 5. Fingers 52 may have a cross-
sectional diamond shape
to facilitate the capture by the drive key receiving wedge 129a,b. Drive keys
123a,b are placed on
at least one longitudinal side of floating lock 12, as depicted in FIGS. 3D
and 3E. Underneath and
centered between drive keys 123a,b is a row of position stops 125. Position
stops 125 preclude
20 fingers 52 from extending any further during insertion. There need not
be a position stop 125 for
each drive key 123a,b, provided there is at least one position stop 125 to
prohibit over insertion of
filter key 5. Position stops 125 also include a slanted or angled face 126 for
slidable contact with
slanted face 58 of fingers 52 on filter key 5. Position stops 125 are shown as
a row of jagged edges,
but do not have to correspond one-for-one with drive keys 123a,b.
[00119] Upon insertion, when fingers 52 of filter key 5 contact drive keys
123a,b, floating lock
12 shifts away from its initial position, against retraction forces, and moves
according to the
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contacting angled edges 58 and 121. Once wings 56a,b of fingers 52 clear lip
127a,b of drive keys
123a,b, floating lock 12 is not prohibited from reacting to the retraction
forces, and moves slightly
back, towards its original position where diamond shaped wings 56a,b are then
trapped by receiving
wedges 129a,b. This position locks filter key 5 to floating lock 12 resisting
any a direct axial
extraction force.
[00120] There is a gap or space 124 between the bottom most portion of drive
key 123a,b and top
most portion of position stop 125. Upon extraction, when wings 56a,b of
fingers 52 are pushed
within this gap or space, there is no structure preventing floating lock 12
from responding to the
tensional retraction forces acting on it. Thus, floating lock 12 is free to
respond to the retraction
forces, and will tend to move towards its initial position. This will align
fingers 52 of filter key 5
within gaps 122 of floating lock 12 and allow for easy extraction of filter
housing 200.
[00121] In order to extract filter housing assembly 200, a user again pushes
axially inwards on
the filter housing assembly, which releases wings 56a,b on filter key 5 from
drive keys 123a,b. This
frees floating lock 12 to return to towards its original position, and locates
fingers 52 on filter key
5 at gaps 122 of floating lock 12. Filter housing assembly 200 can now be
freely extracted from
filter base 100. Resilient members 1110 within shut-off stanchions 1101a,b of
non-floating port 11
assist in pushing or extracting filter housing assembly 200 away from filter
base 100.
[00122] FIG. 9A is a perspective view of non-floating port 11, which works in
tandem with rear
plate 13 or rear plate 1300 to hold floating or sliding lock 12 in place while
allowing it to freely
move longitudinally off its center position and back to its center position
during the insertion and
extraction of filter housing assembly 200. As discussed further herein, the
base platform 1104 of
non-floating port 11 will also hold floating lock 1200 and floating lock 1212
of FIG. 8. For
simplicity, reference is made chiefly to the interaction of non-floating port
11 with floating lock
12, although the applicability of non-floating port 11 includes usage with
floating lock 1200 and
1212 as well. Non-floating port base platform 1104 includes a protruding
encasement 1102, larger
than floating lock 12, and made to enclose floating lock 12 therein.
Encasement 1102 prevents
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over-travel of floating lock 12, and protects it when installed from
extraneous, unintended
movement.
[00123] FIG. 9B is a top plan view of non-floating port 11. Stanchions 1101a,b
are located on
opposite sides of encasement 1102 and extend through base platform 1104. Each
ingress/egress
stanchion 1101a,b has an upper stanchion portion extending perpendicularly
upwards with respect
to a top surface of base platform 1104 in an axial direction and a lower
stanchion portion extending
downwards with respect to base platform 1104 in the axial direction. Ports
1103 represent the
ingress and egress ports for the fluid. Shut-off stanchions 1101a,b include
shutoff plugs 14, which
act as valve seals to stop fluid flow when the filter cartridge is being
removed. Shut-off stanchions
1101a,b are preferably cylindrical in shape, containing spring activated, o-
ring sealed plugs for
sealing the ingress and egress lines during filter cartridge removal. In an
embodiment, rear plate 13
is snap fitted into non-floating port 11. In order to accommodate this, snap
fittings 1105 are shown
on non-floating port 11 that receive a corresponding fitting 135 on rear plate
13.Referring to FIG.
1, floating lock 12 is supported by non-floating port 11 and rear plate 13.
[00124] FIG 10A is a top plan view of one embodiment of rear plate 13 of the
present invention.
[00125] HG. 10B depicts a bottom perspective view of rear plate 13. Rear plate
13 secures
floating lock 12 within a support structure in non-floating port 11. Rear
plate 13 is preferably
attached by snap fit to non-floating port 11, although other attachment
schemes known in the art
may be easily employed, such as bonding, welding, and assorted mechanical
fasteners. Rear plate
13 is formed with extensions 132 on each end, and shaped gaps 133
therebetween. Gaps 133 are
shaped to go around shut-off stanchions 1101a,b of non-floating port 11. In
this embodiment, rear
plate 13 includes a center aperture 131 that allows for longitudinal movement
of floating lock 12.
Floating lock 12 may include an extension member opposite the face configured
with fingers and
gaps, in order to permit resilient components, such as helical or torsion
springs to act upon it. FIGS.
3C and 3E are side views of the floating lock showing extension member 128.
FIG. 3B is a
perspective view of the floating lock 12 with extension member 128. FIG. 8E
depicts floating lock
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1212 with extension member 1280. In these embodiments, the extension member is
acted upon by
resilient devices held by the rear plate.
[00126] FIG. 10C is a top plan view of another embodiment of the rear plate
1300 of the present
invention. In this embodiment, the topside of rear plate 1300 includes a
domed, slotted cover 1302
over the center aperture. Cover 1302 is formed to encase springs or other
resilient members about
the extension member 128 extending from floating lock 12. Dome 1302 includes a
slot 1304 that
is made to receive the extension member 128 from floating lock 12. Slot 1304
helps retain linear
movement of floating lock 12 inside dome 1302. In this embodiment, two
complementary resilient
members, such as springs, would reside on each side of the extension member
128 of floating lock
12. One resilient member preferably applies force on the floating lock
extension member in one
direction, while the other resilient member applies force to the floating lock
extension member in
the opposite direction. In this manner, no matter which way floating lock 12
is moved or shifted, a
retraction force presents itself to return floating lock 12 to its original,
centered position.
[00127] At all times during insertion, the filter housing assembly is under
extraction forces that
tend to push the housing out of the filter base. These extraction forces
result from resilient members
in each shut-off stanchion 1101a,b of non-floating port 11 (shown in FIG. 9B)
that force shutoff
plugs 14 into position in order to block the ingress and egress ports.
Preferably, the extraction forces
on shutoff plugs 14 are provided by a spring 1110 in each port, although other
resilient members
may be used to provide a similar result. Inserting the filter housing assembly
into the filter base
works against these extraction forces, and pushes shutoff plugs 14 further up
each shut-off
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stanchion 1101a,b of non-floating port 11. This allows for fluid ingress,
while keeping the filter
housing assembly under the constant extraction force.
[00128] Protective port shroud 4 may be placed over filter head 2, to protect
the floating lock 12
and filter key 5 mechanism from damage and debris. Shroud 4 is preferably
supported by the
extension supports on the filter manifold.
[00129] FIGS. 6A and 6B are exploded views of another embodiment of the filter
assembly of the
present invention, showing the combination of filter manifold 300, filter key
500, and filter head
210. Filter key 500 is depicted without a locking nub or tab; however it may
include a locking nub
to facilitate attachment to the filter head. FIG. 7F depicts filter key 590
with locking nub or tab
501. Locking nub 501 is located at the base of filter key 590. In this
embodiment, filter key 500 or
590 and filter manifold 300 are modified such that floating lock 1200 or 1212
of FIG. 8 is slidably
shifted by the interaction wings 560a,b of an extended boss 550 on filter key
500 or 590 with drive
keys 1210a,b of floating lock 1200.
[00130] Filter key 500 or 590 is inserted within floating lock 1200 through
the axial insertion of
the filter housing assembly into the filter base. Hammerhead shaped wings
560a,b on fingers 520
of filter key 500 and drive keys 121080 on floating lock 1200 or 1212 slidably
contact one another,
causing a transverse motion of floating lock 1200 or 1212 perpendicular to the
axial motion of
insertion. In this manner, floating lock 1200 or 1212 is shifted
longitudinally, in a direction radially
relative to the filter housing assembly axis. Fingers 520 of filter key 500
are positioned within the
gaps 1220 on floating lock 1200 or 1212. Once filter key 500 or 590 is
inserted, floating lock 1200
or 1212 is returned partially towards its original position by retracting
tensional forces, preferably
by complementary spring forces, so that the fingers on floating lock 1200 or
1212 align directly
with fingers 520 on filter key 500 or 590, thus preventing a direct extraction
force from removing
the filter housing assembly from the filter base.
[00131] FIG. 7F depicts a top perspective view of filter key 59Q At one end of
filter key 590 is
an upwardly extended angled boss 550. Boss 550 rises above horizontal plane
570 created by the
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top portion of fingers 520, and is angled toward fingers 520, with its highest
point at one end of
filter key 500. Boss 550 angles downward from its highest point towards
fingers 520. Preferably,
boss 550 is an upwardly facing triangular or wedge shaped design having wings
560a,b for
interaction with drive keys 1210a,b, respectively, on floating lock 1200.
5 [00132] FIG. 7E depicts an end view of filter key 500 showing a
hammerhead shaped boss 550
rising above plane 570 created by fingers 520, and wings 560a,b extending
laterally from boss 550
resembling what may be considered a hammerhead shape. The purpose of wings
560a,b is to
contact corresponding angled drive keys 1210a,b on floating key 1200.
[00133] A perspective view of the complementary floating lock 1200 is depicted
in FIG. 8A. The
10 only difference between floating lock 1200 of FIG. 8A and floating lock
1212 of FIG 8E is the
addition of an extension member 1280 on floating lock 1212. Floating lock 1200
has fingers
1230a,b and gaps 1220 that may reciprocally correspond to fingers 520 and gaps
540 located on
filter key 500 or 590. It is not necessary for the finger/gap configuration of
floating lock 1200 to
be exactly complementary to the finger/gap configuration of filter key 500 or
590. It is only
15 necessary that floating lock 1200 is able to fully receive the inserting
filter key 500 when the filter
housing assembly is axially inserted into the filter base. Furthermore, once
floating lock 1200 is
subjected to retraction forces acting to return it partially towards its
original position, it is necessary
that at least one finger on filter key 500 or 590 vertically align with at
least one finger on floating
lock 1200 or 1212 preventing any extraction without further shifting of
floating lock 1200 or 1212.
20 [00134] Using floating lock 1200 and filter key 500 as illustrative
examples, upon slidable contact
of wings 560a,b on filter key 500 and drive keys 1210a,b on floating lock
1200, floating lock 1200
moves in a transverse motion, perpendicular to the axial motion of insertion.
In this manner,
floating lock 1200 is shifted longitudinally, in a direction radially relative
to the filter housing
assembly axis. Fingers 520 of filter key 500 are positioned within the gaps
1220 on floating lock
25 1200. Once filter key 500 is inserted, floating lock 1200 is returned
partially towards its original
position by retracting tensional forces, preferably by complementary spring
forces, so that the
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fingers on floating lock 1200 align directly with fingers 520 on filter key
500, thus preventing a
direct extraction force from removing the filter housing assembly from the
filter base.
[00135] Fingers 1230a,b are preferably constructed of the same material as
floating lock 1200 and
integrally formed therewith. However, fingers 1230 may also be removably
attached, and the
floating lock design is not limited to an integrally formed construction.
Additionally, the present
invention is not limited to any particular finger/gap order. It is not
necessary for the finger/gap
configuration on one side of floating lock 1200 to be symmetric with the
finger/gap configuration
on the opposite side. Floating lock 1200 is responsive to tensional forces,
such as complementary
springs acting on it from two separate directions to provide resistance
longitudinally. Floating lock
1200 effectively moves longitudinally when acted upon by filter key 500, and
is forced to return
partially towards its original position after fingers 520 of filter key 500
have traversed through gaps
1220. Upon partial retraction, fingers 520 are aligned behind or underneath
fingers 1230 of floating
lock 1200. FIG. 8B is a top view of floating lock 1200 showing laterally
extending fingers 1230a,b
and adjacent gaps 1220 between the fingers.
[00136] FIG. 8C is a cross-sectional view of floating lock 1200, depicting
drive key 1210a, which
is located at one end of floating lock 1200 on longitudinal or side panel
1240. Drive key 1210a is
opposite a similar drive key 1210b (not shown), which is located on the
opposite longitudinal panel
of floating lock 1200. Both drive keys are designed to have an angled face for
slidably interacting
with wings 560a,b of boss 550 on filter key 500. Each drive key is preferably
integrally fabricated
with floating lock 1200; however, the drive keys may be fabricated separately
and attached to the
longitudinal panels of floating lock 1200 by attachment means known in the
art. As shown in FIG.
8C, below drive key 1210a is a position key or physical stop 1250, preferably
formed with the
supporting lateral wall 1260 of floating lock 1200. As shown in FIG. 8B,
position key 1250 is
situated between drive keys 12100. Position key 1250 may be integrally formed
with lateral wall
1260, or may be separately attached thereto by any acceptable means in the
prior art, such as
bonding, welding, gluing, press fitting, and the like. Position key 1250 acts
as a physical stop to
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ensure against over travel of floating lock 1200. Position key 1250 is
situated below drive keys
1210a,b by a distance designed to accommodate the insertion of boss 550 of
filter key 500. Upon
insertion of filter key 500 into floating lock 1200, boss 550 traverses
through gap 1270 in floating
lock 1200 formed by the space between drive keys 1210a,b. Wings 560a,b of boss
550 extend
outward relative to the width of boss 550, traversing between lateral wall
1260 and drive keys
1210a,b. In this manner, wings 560a,b retain floating lock 1200 from
retracting back to its original
position while boss 550 is being inserted. At all times, floating lock 1200 is
under the retraction
force of resilient members, such as tandem springs, or the like, tending to
keep floating lock 1200
its original position, which is preferably a centered position. During
insertion of filter key 500,
wings 560a,b interact with drive keys 1210a,b to shift floating lock 1200
longitudinally off-center
while under the resilient retraction forces. Upon full insertion, when boss
550 reaches and contacts
position key 1250, wings 560a,b are no longer held by drive keys 1210a,b
because the length of
drive keys 1210a,b is shorter than the length of boss 550. At this point in
the insertion process, the
tensional retraction forces shift floating lock 1200 towards its original
position.
[00137] Once wings 560a,b reach position key 1250, and the user releases the
insertion force
initially applied on the filter housing assembly, the extraction forces from
shutoff plug springs 1110
dominate. These forces push the filter housing assembly axially outwards, away
from floating lock
1200. Since wings 560a,b are no longer bound between drive keys 1210a,b and
lateral wall 1260,
floating lock 1200 will tend to shift longitudinally, partially towards its
original position as filter
key 500 moves slightly axially outwards. At this point, wings 560a,b interact
with edge angles
1280a,b to push away from the center position, shifting filter key 500, and
combining or contacting
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with face 1300a,b to keep the filter housing from retracting. FIG. 8D depicts
an exploded view of
drive key 1210a with edge angle 1290a and face 1300a.
[00138] Fingers 520 of filter key 500 are now aligned with fingers 1230 of
floating lock 1200 and
remain in contact in a vertical plane in the axial direction, prohibiting
extraction of the filter housing
assembly from the filter base.
[00139] FIGS. 12A-12E present yet another embodiment of a filter housing
assembly 600,
having a housing 610 with a substantially cylindrical body 612 and a top
portion 614 for forming
a fluid-tight seal with the body. A strengthening rib 613 runs along the
length of the cylindrical
body 612, parallel to a longitudinal axial center line 616. The top portion
614 is depicted as
substantially dome-shaped to facilitate the filter housing assembly as a
pressurized vessel;
however, it may be a flat surface if design constraints require. The
cylindrical body 612 and
housing top portion 614 share the longitudinal axial center line 616. A
protrusion 618 extends in
the axial direction upwards from top portion 614, and outwards in a radial
direction about the axial
center 616. Dimensionally, the protrusion 618 extends upwards approximately
0.15-035 inches -
and preferably 0.24 inches - from the top surface of the housing top portion
614. Housing 610
may hold a filter media therein for the filtration of fluids, may act as a
sump, or may act as a
bypass filter cartridge having no filtration media. Housing 610 is further
adapted to receive a
connection assembly 665 which consists of an electronic circuit component 660
and a housing
662 for receiving said electronic circuit component therein. Electronic
circuit component 660 is
exemplified in FIGS. 12-13 and in the below description as a printed circuit
board 660, but other
electronic circuit components may be used with the filter housing assembly of
the present
invention, including but not limited to: microcontrollers, microprocessors,
microchips (such as
erasable programmable read-only memories ("EPROMs")), or any other type of
analog, digital,
or mixed signal integrated circuit ("IC") technology.
[00140] As shown in FIGS. 12A-12E, an ingress port 620 is demarcated into
three distinct
segments: a first or top segment 622, a second or middle segment 623, and a
third or bottom
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segment 624. The third or bottom segment 624 extends vertically upwards in a
longitudinally axial
direction from the surface of housing top portion 614 substantially parallel
to the axial center line
616. The ingress port bottom segment 624 is separated from middle segment 623
by seal 628. The
ingress port top segment 622 extends from the ingress port middle segment 623
upwards to the
topmost surface of the port, and is separated from middle segment 623 by seal
627. Seals 627 and
628 prohibit fluid exiting ingress port middle segmenes aperture or cavity
640a from contacting
the outer surface of the ingress port top and bottom segments 622, 624,
respectively, once the
ingress port is inserted within a receiving filter base stanchion. Seals 627
and 628 provide a
circumferential press-fit or sealing force against the inner cylindrical wall
of the stanchions of the
filter base (not shown). Seals 627, 628 are held in place on the ingress port
typically by insertion
into a groove within the ingress port cylindrical outer surface, such that a
diameter D1 of the
outermost seal radial extension is slightly greater than the inner wall
diameter of the receiving
stanchion, allowing the resilient, compressible seals to be compressed by the
inner wall of the
receiving stanchion upon insertion.
[00141] In at least one embodiment, ingress port middle segment 623 has a
varying diameter D2
unequal to, and less than DI, such that the ingress port middle segment 623 is
formed having an
outer surface contour to allow for fluid to flow around the middle segment 623
after the ingress
port 620 is inserted into its respective stanchion. Fluid exiting the filter
base stanchion is contained
by and between seals 627, 628 and the circumferential stanchion inner wall.
The fluid traverses
around the ingress port middle segment and enters the ingress port middle
segment aperture or
cavity 640a.
[00142] In the embodiment depicted in Fig. 12, the outer surface contour of
ingress middle
segment 623 is depicted in the form of an hourglass shape having a smaller
diameter at its center
than at either the topmost or bottommost points of the middle segment closest
to the seals 627,
628. The ingress port middle segment's body may be formed of other shapes as
well, such as a
smaller cylindrical shape having a diameter less than D1, a rectangular or
triangular segment, or
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cone-shaped architecture, wherein the middle segment 623 has at least one area
where its
measured diameter is less than diameter D1, providing an annular space for
fluid to flow around
the middle segment structure to allow fluid, exiting the filter base input
port into the stanchion to
enter the ingress port middle segment's aperture or cavity 640a.
5 [00143] Preferably, ingress port 620 is substantially cylindrical at its
top and bottom segments
to correspond to the cylindrical cavity of its respective receiving stanchion.
The measurements of
the outermost surface contour of ingress port 620 at the seals 627, 628 /
stanchion inner wall
interface, which is identified by diameter D1, may be between 0.25-0.45 inches
- and optionally
0.36 inches - while the ingress middle segment diameter D2 of ingress port 620
may be between
10 0.2-0.4 inches, and optionally 0.28 inches. The middle segment diameter
D2 is less than diameter
DI and the diameter of the receiving stanchion to achieve fluid flow about and
around the ingress
port middle segment from the exit port of the stanchion on one side to the
input aperture 640a of
the middle segment to the other side. A fluid seal is still maintained during
such instances of fluid
flow, such that fluid is prohibited from contacting the outer surface of the
ingress port top or
15 bottom segments. This allows for the outer surface contour of ingress
middle segment 623 to be
less than, and within, the compressed sealing diameter DI at the filter base's
stanchion inner wall.
[00144] An egress port 630 similarly having a substantially cylindrical body
631 with a first or
top segment 632, a second or middle segment 633, and a third or bottom segment
634, extends
vertically upwards in a longitudinally axial direction from the top surface of
housing top portion
20 614 substantially parallel to top portion axial center 616. The egress
port top segment 632 extends
from its topmost point downwards to the egress port middle segment 633, and is
separated from
middle segment 633 by a seal 638. The egress port bottom segment 634 extends
from housing top
portion 614 upwards to the egress port middle segment 633, and is separated
from middle segment
633 by seal 637. Seals 637, 638 prohibit fluid exiting the egress port middle
segment 633 aperture
25 or cavity 640b from contacting the outside surface of egress port top
and bottom segments 632,
634, respectively. Seals 637, 638 provide a circumferential press-fit or
sealing force against the
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inner cylindrical wall of the receiving stanchion of the filter base (not
shown). Seals 637, 638 are
held in place on the egress port typically by insertion within a groove on the
egress port outer wall
surface, such that a diameter D3 of the outermost seal radial extension is
slightly greater than the
inner wall diameter of the receiving stanchion allowing the resilient,
compressible seals to be
compressed by the inner wall of the receiving stanchion upon insertion. In a
similar fashion as the
ingress port, the egress port middle segment 633 may be formed in other shapes
that allow fluid
to flow around the middle segment when the middle segment is placed within the
receiving filter
base stanchion.
[00145] In the embodiment depicted in Fig. 12, the outer surface contour of
egress middle
segment 633 is depicted in the form of an hourglass shape having a smaller
diameter D4 at its
center than at either the topmost or bottommost points of the middle segment
closest the seals 637,
638. The egress port middle segment's body may be formed of other shapes as
well, such as a
smaller cylindrical shape having a diameter less than D3, a rectangular or
triangular segment, or
cone-shaped architecture, wherein the middle segment 633 has at least one area
where the surface
contour radial extension remains within the constraints of diameter D3 to
allow fluid, exiting
egress port middle segment's aperture or cavity 640b and contained by seals
637, 638 and the
circumferential stanchion inner wall, to flow around the egress port middle
segment to the opposite
side for input into the filter base from an aperture in the receiving
stanchion.
[00146] The ingress port segments 622-624 and egress port segments 632-634 may
each have
outer surface contours separate and distinct from one other. In the
alternative, ingress port
segments 622-624 and egress port segments 632-634 may have substantially
similar outer surface
topologies. In any case, the respective middle segments will have an outer
surface topology (e.g.,
the outer diameter in a substantially cylindrically shaped embodiment) that
has an outer surface
contour with a diameter or width that is less than the inner wall of the
receiving filter base
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stanchion by an amount sufficient to create an annular gap that allows fluid
to flow around and
about the middle segments between their respective upper and lower seals.
[00147] The measurements of outermost diameter D3 of egress port 630 at the
seal / stanchion
inner wall interface may be between 0.25-0.45 inches - and optionally 0.36
inches - while the
egress middle segment 633 diameter D4 of egress port 630 may be between 0.2-
0.4 inches, and
optionally 0.28 inches. The middle segment smaller radial extension D4 is less
than diameter D3
to achieve fluid flow about and around the egress port middle segment. This
allows for the outer
surface contour radial extension of ingress middle segment 623 to be less than
the compressed
sealing diameter at the manifold's stanchion inner wall.
[00148] Ingress port 620 and egress port 630 both include aperture or cavity
640a,b located on
their respective middle segments 623, 633 for the passage of fluid. The
ingress port and egress port
apertures or cavities 640a,b are exposed in a direction facing away from the
filter base stanchion
apertures that are in fluid communication with apertures 640a,b. The opposing
placement of the
apertures is helpful because upon extraction of the filter cartridge, if
ingress and egress apertures
640a,b are in a direction facing the filter base stanchion apertures (defined
simply as a means of
convention as a forward direction), any fluid that drains from apertures
640a,b may drip upon the
electronics and electronic surfaces populated on the electronic circuit
component or printed circuit
board 660 located forward of the filter key in a PCB housing 662. Once the
filter housing 610 is
installed in the filter base or manifold, the cavities 640a,b of the ingress
and egress ports are
designed to be facing away from the filter base ports (not shown). Water
flowing through housing
assembly 600 thus enters and exits the cavities 640a,b, respectively, flows
around the middle
segments 623, 633 of the ingress and egress ports within the manifold
stanchions, and continues
into the ports. The variable radial extensions or diameters D2, D4 of the
middle segments 623, 633,
respectively, allows for the water to flow around the ingress and egress port
middle segments within
the stanchion's cylindrical cavity without building undue pressure that could
otherwise force a leak
through the seals 627, 628, 637, 638 and onto the filter housing assembly 600,
which would
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otherwise cause damage to the electronics disposed on the printed circuit
board 660 as further
described below.
[00149] Ingress port and egress port 620, 630 extend from, and are
substantially perpendicular
to, a non-diameter chord line Cl of the housing top portion 614, as shown in
FIG. 12E. Moving
the ingress and egress ports off a corresponding parallel diameter of the
housing top portion is
helpful to allow for sufficient space on the housing top portion 614 for
placement of the PC board
housing 662 and PC board 660. Dimensionally, the distance between chord line
Cl and a parallel
diameter of housing top portion 614 may be between 0.1-0.5 inches, and
optionally 0.3 inches.
The ingress and egress ports are off-diagonal center in order to accommodate
the remaining
particular features of the housing assembly 600. Ingress port 620 and egress
port 630 are spaced
apart from each other on chord line Cl by approximately 0.65-0.85 inches, and
optionally 0.74
inches. The filter key 650 is centered on, and perpendicularly intersects
with, chord line Clµ
[00150] A "diameter" as used herein, may refer to a straight line passing
through corresponding
sides of the component/portion/segment, such as that of the port (ingress port
620 and/or egress
port 630). Typically, the diameter is a straight line passing through opposite
sides of the
component/portionhegment, such as that of the port (ingress port 620 and/or
egress port 630),
e.g., in a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the water filter
cartridge. Here, the length of
the diameter is the perpendicular distance between the opposite sides of the
component/portion/segment, e.g., in a plane perpendicular to the central axis.
In some instances,
the diameter line passes through a center, a centroid, a focus, a center of
curvature, a circumcenter,
and/or another center of a circular or non-circular cross-section of the
component/portion/segment, such as that of the port (ingress port 620 and/or
egress port 630)
along the plane perpendicular to the central axis. In some instances, e.g.,
where the
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portion/segment of the port (ingress port 620 and/or egress port 630)
comprises a circular or oval
cross section, the diameter line may pass through a center and/or a focus of
the cross section,
[00151] The filter key 650 structured for mating attachment to a filter base
or manifold is located
on or connected to the housing 610, and extends upwards in a direction
parallel to the axial center
616 of the housing top portion 614. Filter key 650 comprises a base 651 having
a front lateral side
652a, and a rear or back lateral side 652b, with a groove 654 running
therethrough for receiving
protrusion 618 on housing top port 614, and lengthwise or longitudinal sides
653 running
substantially parallel to protrusion 618, as shown across FIGS. 13A-13C.
Filter key 650 is secured
to the housing top portion 614 via the connection between groove 654 and
protrusion 618.
[00152] Base 651 extends upward along the housing top portion axial center
616, having the
exposed front face and back face 652a, 652b, respectively, and two exposed
longitudinal side
faces 653a,b. A cross-section of the base 651 in a plane parallel to the front
and back lateral faces
652a,b depicts longitudinal sides 653a,b gradually tapering inward through the
upward extension,
and then projecting upwards parallel to the central axis to a top surface that
supports a finger or a
plurality of fingers 655 as discussed further below.
[00153] From the top of base 651 extends finger 655 (and in at least one other
embodiment, a
plurality of extending fingers), the finger 655 extending substantially
parallel to the exposed front
and back lateral faces or sides 652a,b, and substantially perpendicular to the
housing top portion
axial center line 616.Finger(s) 655 further includes on one side a contacting
portion 656 forming
substantially a first angle and exposed in a first direction with respect to
the housing top portion,
which presents a camming surface for slidably mating with a filter base drive
key. In a second
embodiment, an adjacent side 657 is introduced (as depicted in Fig. 13)
forming a second angle
and exposed in a second direction with respect to the housing top portion,
such that the first angle
and the second angle are not equal.
[00154] Once installed on the housing top portion, the filter key is spaced
approximately 0.4-0.6
inches - and optionally 0.53 inches - from either port 620, 630, as measured
on the chord line Cl
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from the closest outer surface point of either port on each side of the filter
key. In this manner, the
filter key is centered between the ports. The filter key extends frontwards
(away from the exposed
face of apertures 640a,b) beyond chord line Cl, extending through the center
of both ports, such
that lengthwise the filter key is not centered about the chord line Cl, and
extends in one direction
5 (conventionally only, defined as frontwards) further away from the
ingress and egress ports than
in the opposite direction.
[00155] A PCB housing or holder 662 having a recess 663 formed for receiving
the printed
circuit board 660 is extended frontwards from the filter key base. The PCB
housing and recess
being attachable to, or preferably integral with, filter key 650, as shown in
Figs. 13A-13C. The
10 printed circuit board 660 may alternatively be connected directly to the
filter housing 610, without
the need for a PCB housing structure, as exemplified in Figs. 14A-14D.
[00156] The filter key may extend partially within recess 663 as depicted in
Fig. 13A This filter
key extended portion 650a may cause the attaching PC board to be shaped to
accommodate the
extended portion 650a, giving the PC board an elongated "horseshoe" shaped
footprint around the
15 extended portion. Recess 663 is substantially linear at one end 663a as
shown in Fig. 13A,
extending outwards from the filter key base exposed side faces 653a,b. The
opposing side 663b
of recess 663 may be curved as shown. The PCB housing 662 may have a length
(from outside
wall to outside wall) of approximately 1.47-1.67 inches (optionally 1.57
inches), and a lateral or
shorter dimension of approximately 0.63-0.83 inches (optionally 0.73 inches).
Recess 663 is
20 depicted with a lengthwise dimension (from inside wall to inside wall)
that may have a length at
its substantially linear end 663a of approximately 1.37-1.57 inches (and
optionally 1.47 inches),
and with a lateral or shorter dimension having a length of approximately 0.52-
0.72 inches (and
optionally 0.62 inches), such that the recess resembles approximately a
rectangular basin with
curved comers on the end furthest from the filter key.
25 [00157] PCB housing 662 is connected to, or integral with, the
longitudinal sides 653a,b of the
filter key and extends on each side past - and centered about - the filter key
exposed side faces
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652a,b respectively. When installed, the PCB housing bottom surface preferably
forms to the
shape of the housing top portion 614. As the housing top portion 614 is
depicted in one
embodiment as being domed shaped, the PCB housing bottom surface is concave
facing the
housing top portion.
[00158] The PCB housing sidewalls extend upward from the PCB housing bottom
surface such
that the top edge of the PCB housing plateaus in a planar surface
perpendicular to the housing
axial center 616. The PCB housing is designed to receive a relatively
straight, flat PC board.
Alternatively, the PCB housing may be shaped in a non-plateauing manner to
accommodate a
printed circuit board that is not shaped as a flat board, and to allow for a
proper electrical
attachment of the filter housing 610 to a connector on the filter base.
[00159] PCB housing may be alternatively designed to extend past the rear
lateral exposed back
side of the filter key (not shown). In another alternative, PCB housing 662
may be presented as
its own distinct piece separate from the filter key 650, to be separately
connected to the housing
assembly 600 (not shown). In still a further alternative, PCB housing 662 may
be integral with the
housing 610, either at the top portion 614 or elsewhere on the housing body
612 as manufacturing
demands may require.
[00160] PCB housing 662 further includes exposed terminal posts 664 disposed
therein for
mechanically supporting the printed circuit board 660. Other extension
features or ledges
extending internally from the recess side walls 663a, b are used to support
the PC Board about its
periphery.
[00161] The PCB includes pads 661 for electrical connection to a connector
located on the filter
base. The pads 661 are optionally gold plated, and designed for swiping
interaction with a
corresponding connector terminal (not shown) during the insertion and removal
of the filter
assembly from its respective base. In an embodiment, the PC board includes
four pads (two sets
of two pad connectors) for electrical connection. The pads are exposed facing
upwards on the PC
board, and are preferably rectangular in footprint shape to accommodate
tolerances in the filter
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base connector, especially during the pushing motion for insertion and
extraction of the filter
cartridge.
[00162] In operation, printed circuit board 660 assists a processor in
utilizing crypto-
authentication elements with protected hardware based key storage (up to 16
keys). Electronic
components such as authentication chips, capacitors, resistors, diodes, LED's,
and the like, are
supported on the bottom side of the PCB, opposite the pads 661. The printed
circuit board executes
encryption capabilities using secure hash algorithms ("SHA") with 256 bit key
lengths. The circuit
board 660 is fitrther capable of housing additional electronics for storing
information pertaining
to estimated water flow (through the filter housing assembly), and total
filter usage time. This
information is communicated via a main control board, the main control board
being optionally
installed on or within a refrigerator, and which further monitors the filter
usage time and estimated
water flow, among other variables.
[00163] It is envisioned that the preferred embodiment of the present
invention would be disposed
in a refrigerator (e.g. within the refrigerator cabinet). The output of the
filter assembly may be
selectively coupled to a water dispenser or an ice dispenser. The water source
to the refrigerator
would be in fluid communication with filter base 100, and prohibited from
flowing when filter
housing assembly 200 is removed from filter base 100. Shutoff plugs 14 in
stanchions 1101a,b seal
fluid flow until filter housing assembly 200 is inserted in filter base 100.
Upon insertion, fluid
would flow to the filter housing assembly and filter water would be returned
from the filter housing
assembly.
[00164] All parts of the filter housing assembly 200 and filter base 100 may
be made using molded
plastic parts according to processes known in the art. The filter media may be
made from known
filter materials such as carbon, activated carbons, malodorous carbon, porous
ceramics and the like.
The filter media, which may be employed in the filter housing of the instant
invention, includes a
wide variety of filter media capable of reducing one or more harmful
contaminants from water
entering the filter housing apparatus. Representative of the filter media
employable in the filter
housing include those found in U.S. Patent Nos. 6,872,311, 6,835,311,
6,797,167, 6,630,016,
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5,331,037, and 5,147,722. In addition, the filter composition disclosed in the
following Published
Applications may be employed as the filter media: US 2005/0051487 and US
2005/0011827.
[00165] The filter assembly is preferably mounted on a surface in proximity to
a source of water
The mounting means are also preferably in close proximity to the use of the
filtered water produced
by the filter housing apparatus.
[00166] While the present invention has been particularly described, in
conjunction with a specific
preferred embodiment, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and
variations will be
apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. It
is therefore contemplated
that the appended claims will embrace any such alternatives, modifications and
variations as falling
within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.
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