Liquid filter

Abstract

A permanent, reuseable liquid filter comprised of a thin flexible filter material and a support skeleton secured thereto. The filter is adapted to assume a filtering condition generally coextensive with the internal conformation of a generally oblong somewhat conical cup-shaped filter support at least when the filter is inserted thereinto. The filter may normally be in a generally flat condition for subsequent folding into the cup-shaped conformation upon insertion into the filter support or may be fabricated and assembled so as to normally assume a somewhat cup-shaped conformation. In both filter types, the support skeleton is typically located on the outside surface of the filter material and includes a plurality of support ribs extending from a bamd-like filter bottom area toward the filter open or top end. Selected ones of the support ribs are located in a manner such that when the filter construction is either folded for use or initially assembled, they will be positioned at generally opposed end areas of the filter which will communicate with end areas of the filter support. Additional support ribs at spaced intervals intermediate these ends and a base support member at the band-like filter bottom area may be advantageously provided. In the assembled type of filter construction, discardable retaining arms may be included with the skeleton to temporarily maintain the filter in an assembled condition to accommodate subsequent interconnection of selected ones of the support ribs to each other.