초록 ▼

A filter assembly for fluid filtration having a push-activated lock and release mechanism. A push filter design activates a floating key lock upon insertion and extraction, where the filter key may be used simultaneously as a lock and as an identifier for particular filter attributes. The filter bas

A filter assembly for fluid filtration having a push-activated lock and release mechanism. A push filter design activates a floating key lock upon insertion and extraction, where the filter key may be used simultaneously as a lock and as an identifier for particular filter attributes. The filter base may be situated inline, and in fluid communication, with influent and effluent piping, such as within a refrigerator. The filter housing assembly may be attached to, and removed from, the filter base by a push-actuated release. Upon insertion, the filter key shifts the filter lock longitudinally to receive interlocking segments. Upon extraction, the same axial push shifts the filter lock further to align the interlocking fingers within gaps that allow for easy extraction. 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.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A filter housing assembly comprising: a filter housing for enclosing a filter media, said filter housing having a body and a top portion for forming a fluid-tight seal with said body, said filter housing top portion including:an ingress port;an egress port;an elongated protrusion extending from a

1. A filter housing assembly comprising: a filter housing for enclosing a filter media, said filter housing having a body and a top portion for forming a fluid-tight seal with said body, said filter housing top portion including:an ingress port;an egress port;an elongated protrusion extending from a top surface of said filter housing top portion; anda filter key located on said top portion and having a top surface, longitudinal sides, and lateral sides, said filter key including a plurality of spaced protrusions or fingers on each longitudinal side of said filter key extending laterally from said top surface, wherein said fingers include winged extensions having slanted or angled faces for mating attachment to a filter base or manifold, said filter key having a groove complementary to said elongated protrusion for insertably securing said filter key to said filter housing top portion by slidably mating said elongated protrusion of said filter housing top portion within said filter key groove. 2. The filter housing assembly of claim 1 wherein said fingers include a diamond shaped cross-section. 3. The filter housing assembly of claim 1 including having said filter key attached to said filter housing top portion by snap fit, friction fit, welding, or bonding. 4. The filter housing assembly of claim 1 including a filter manifold or base attached to said filter housing top portion, said filter manifold or base comprising an attachment structure for fixably receiving said spaced protrusions or fingers on said longitudinal sides of said filter key. 5. The filter housing assembly of claim 4 wherein said ingress or egress ports are integrally formed on said filter housing top portion. 6. The filter housing assembly of claim 5 wherein said ingress port and said egress port are off axial center of said filter housing. 7. The filter housing assembly of claim 1 wherein said spaced protrusions or fingers are integrally formed with said filter key. 8. The filter housing assembly of claim 1 including at least one strengthening rib on said filter housing body. 9. The filter housing assembly of claim 8 wherein said at least one strengthening rib protrudes radially from said filter housing body and extends longitudinally intermediate between top and bottom portions of said filter housing. 10. The filter housing assembly of claim 1 wherein said filter key includes an indented angled ramp segment on at least one bottom edge, and said filter housing top portion includes at least one protruding or extended angled ramp segment for complementary mating with said indented angled ramp segment on said filter key. 11. The filter housing assembly of claim 1 wherein said filter key includes an extended, protruding angled ramp segment on at least one bottom edge, and said filter housing top portion includes at least one indented angled ramp segment for complementary mating with said protruding angled ramp segment on said filter key. 12. A filter housing assembly comprising: a filter housing for enclosing a filter media;a filter head having two ports for ingress and egress integral with said filter head and in fluid communication with said filter media, said filter head forming a fluid-tight seal with said filter housing and a first attachment structure located on said filter head for receiving a filter key;andsaid filter key having a top surface, a bottom, longitudinal sides, and lateral sides, said filter key including:a plurality of spaced protrusions or fingers on each longitudinal side of said filter key extending laterally from said top surface and having winged extensions; anda second attachment structure located on said filter key bottom for attaching said filter key to said first attachment structure on said filter manifold. 13. The filter housing assembly of claim 12 wherein said filter key is fixably or removably attached to said filter head. 14. The filter housing assembly of claim 12 wherein said filter key fingers include slanted or angled faces on said winged extensions. 15. The filter housing assembly of claim 14 wherein said winged extensions have a diamond shaped cross-section. 16. A filter base for releasably connecting to a complementary mating filter housing assembly comprising: a base platform having fluid ingress and egress ports; anda floating lock in sliding communication with said base platform, having a bottom surface, a top surface, and longitudinal and lateral sides, said floating lock including:spaced protrusions, drive keys, or fingers on said longitudinal sides extending laterally inwards, including at least one shaped protrusion, finger, or drive key for slidably contacting said complementary mating filter housing assembly, said at least one shaped protrusion, finger, or drive key including an angled face exposed towards the bottom surface. 17. The filter base of claim 16 wherein said floating lock includes a position stop centered about said lateral sides, and located above said at least one drive key to provide a physical stop during insertion of said complementary mating filter key. 18. The filter base of claim 17 wherein said key includes a track structure longitudinally across said floating lock. 19. The filter base of claim 16 including an enclosure for receiving said floating lock, said enclosure allowing said floating lock to slidably move therein. 20. A filter base in combination with a filter housing assembly, said combination comprising: a filter base having an ingress port and an egress port on a base platform;a slidable floating lock in slidable contact of said filter base, said floating lock having a plurality of drive keys or lateral extensions separated by gaps;a resilient member in contact with said floating lock, providing a retraction force for said floating lock;a filter housing assembly including a top portion having a filter head with a top surface, a first attachment structure and an elongated protrusion extending from said filter head top surface, and at least one protruding angled ramp segment for complementary mating with said angled ramp segment on said filter key; anda filter key located on a top portion of said filter housing assembly, said filter key having longitudinal sides and lateral sides, said filter key including:a plurality of spaced protrusions or fingers on each longitudinal side of said filter key extending laterally from said top surface, wherein said fingers include winged extensions having slanted or angled faces for mating attachment to a filter base or manifold;a second attachment structure having a groove complementary to said elongated protrusion for insertably securing said filter key to said filter head top surface by slidably mating said elongated protrusion of said filter head within said groove; andan indented angled ramp segment on at least one bottom edge. 21. The combination of claim 20 wherein said floating lock includes: a bottom surface, a top surface, and longitudinal and lateral sides, and wherein said lateral extensions include drive keys on said longitudinal sides extending laterally inwards at said bottom surface for slidably receiving said filter key, each of said drive keys including an angled portion exposed towards said bottom surface, and an edge or wedge on each of said drive key bottom for releasably contacting with a portion of said filter key; anda position key centered about said floating lock, and located above said drive keys to provide a physical stop during insertion of said filter housing assembly. 22. The combination of claim 20 wherein said filter head includes a top surface with a first attachment structure and an elongated protrusion extending from said filter head top surface, and said filter key includes a second attachment structure having a groove complementary to the elongated protrusion for insertably securing said filter key to said filter head top surface by slidably mating the elongated protrusion of said filter head within said groove. 23. The filter housing assembly of claim 20 wherein said filter housing assembly top portion includes at least one extended angled ramp segment for complementary mating with said indented angled ramp segment on said filter key.