Abstract: A liquid filter device for use with bottles holding wine or other liquids, for use in filtering cork or other sediments from the liquid while pouring the liquid out of the bottle, comprising a generally tubular body which may be inserted into the neck of a bottle, where the body has a top portion open to the internal volume of the filter device and a bottom portion sealed from the internal volume, openings formed in the body, a filter located on the inside of the body to cover such openings and means for strengthening said body being integrally formed thereon.

Abstract: A needleless access device and method of using the device is disclosed. The needleless access device has a housing having an inlet opening and an outlet opening and a channel formed therethrough. Movably friction fitted in the channel adjacent the inlet opening is a piston. The piston is biased upwardly by a stretchable element. The stretchable element allows the top of the piston to be depressed by a syringe to a level adjacent internal flow channels to permit injection and aspiration of fluids through the device.

Abstract: A fuel tank filter connectible to a fuel pump mounted inside of a fuel tank is disclosed. The filter includes filtration material forming an envelope, a separator inside the envelope and a spring attached to the separator in a manner such that the spring biases the separator to hold the envelope towards the bottom of the fuel tank.

Abstract: A process for producing hermetically sealed filters is disclosed. The process includes the steps of providing thermoplastic base and top filter parts and a section of filtration media, sandwiching the media between sections of the base and top filter parts under a compressive force, applying a rapidly repetitive force to at least one of the filter parts to cause movement between the parts and frictional welding of the parts, maintaining the compressive force after frictional welding to allow the melted portion of the parts to solidify and thereby form a fluid seal at the junction of the filter parts and at the junctions of the filtration media and each of the base and top filter parts. In one embodiment, the junction between the filter parts is the periphery of an automatic transmission filter, and the junction is hermetically sealed. A hermetically sealed automatic transmission filter is also disclosed.

Abstract: A center flow check valve of the diaphragm type is inexpensive to manufacture and has reliably great sensitivity in both forward and reverse flow. The valve includes an imperforate diaphragm that is loose, e.g., is not affirmatively held in place by a pin or the like, and the center portion of the diaphragm as well as the periphery move axially in various modes of operation. Various elements help to keep the diaphragm centered. A reverse flow path directs back flow to the center of the downstream surface of the diaphragm. The back flow lifts the diaphragm from support edges about which it flexes during forward flow and seals it against a concave sealing surface. The diaphragm is protected against strong pressure in the forward direction by a flow deflector and against strong back flow pressure by the concave sealing surface.

Abstract: A fluid filter for use in a fluid system wherein fluid is forced through the filter by a suction source connected to the filter outlet is disclosed. In addition to a housing defining a volume, with an inlet and an outlet, and a filtration media envelope inside said volume, the filter further includes an envelope spacing means to support the envelope against collapse, and fluid flow spacing means between the housing and the envelope. In a preferred embodiment, the envelope spacing means comprises a grid assembly inside the envelope, connected to the housing inlet to maintain proper positioning.

Abstract: An automatic transmission fluid filter is disclosed, comprised of a metal base member, a plastic cover member attached to the base member, enclosing a volume. Filtration material inside the volume is interposed between an inlet and outlet to the filter. A plastic overmold around the periphery of the union of the metal and plastic members hermetically seals the filter except at the inlet and outlet. In a preferred embodiment, the metal base member includes a flanged edge which is secured to a flanged edge of the cover member by the overmold. Slots through the flange of the base member allow plastic of the overmold to flow through, connecting together plastic on both sides of the flange. Also, the base member flange ends curled lip embedded in the plastic of the overmold. Edge sections of the filtration material extend to and between the union of the base and cover members over some sections of the edge of the filter.

Abstract: A check valve is disclosed made with a rotationally symetrical valve body with fluid inlet and outlet holes centered on the axis of symetry. A circular, flexible diaphragm is held in place inside the valve body by a mounting pin which extends through a hole in the diaphragm. The mounting pin and an opposing mounting pin receptical are supported by legs protruding inwardly from the inlet and outlet walls of the valve body and bridging over the inlet and outlet holes. The length of the legs determine the position of the diaphragm with respect to the inlet wall against which the diaphragm seals. Thus the opening pressure of the valve is dependant on the length of the legs.

Abstract: A filter suitable for press fitting into an assembly for inline filtration is disclosed. The filter includes a base, filtration material supported on the base, and a metal collar surrounding at least a portion of the base with a portion of the metal collar embedded in the base. The leading edge of the collar and anchor tabs on the distal end of the collar are embedded in the base and thus secure the collar to the base. The collar also has a rounded entry corner which provides a smooth entry into the press fit hole when the filter is pressed into place.

Abstract: An improved low-profile inline filter unit comprising a housing unit and filter frame. The filter frame being adapted to fit substantially within the housing so that the filter frame may be sonically welded to the housing unit. The housing unit and filter frame cooperating to provide a visible indicator for determining whether an internal hermetic seal is present between the housing unit and filter frame.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an inlet blood filter assembly. The inlet blood filter assembly includes a drip chamber, filter chamber and pump chamber. The assembly is constructed so that blood flows through the drip chamber, into the filter chamber and into the pump chamber. The inlet blood filter assembly is blow molded so that the thickness of the walls of the chambers may be varied.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and apparatus for making sealed filter units which include a plurality of filter elements. The apparatus includes a lower mold half for supporting a filter element support and a retractable locater member. The retractable locater member includes a reduced cross-sectional notched portion which projects above the lower mold half. When retracted into the lower mold half, the notched portion in conjunction with the upper and lower mold halves forms a cavity along the outer and upper peripheral edges of the filter elements and support. A thermoplastic material is injected into this cavity to capture the filter elements to the filter element support.

Abstract: An improved low-profile inline fluid filter (10), for IV sets and the like, comprises only two discrete units: a shell unit (11) and a screen unit (12). The screen unit (12) is adapted to fit substantially within the shell unit (11) such that the screen unit (12) and the shell unit (11) are connected to each other at both ends.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of intravenous solution filter units includes injection molding a sealing member onto the periphery of the assembled filter components to hermetically seal the components into an integral assembly. The filter unit itself includes a housing and a filter element disposed internally thereof. The filter element is supported by a grid having a design and placement within the housing to assure, in conjunction with other structural features of the filter, the complete purging of gases from the filtrate. Also disclosed is a method for hermetically sealing the filter element to its thermoplastic support which provides an improved seal which will not leak. This method comprises the molding of the support, the alignment of the filter element on the support, the application of pressure to hold the element on the support and the overmolding of the periphery of the element to seal the edge of the element to the support.