Freeze resistant water filter

Abstract

A freeze resistant filter cartridge assembly, includes a filter cartridge including a filter housing and a filter media and having at least one component selected from a list of components consisting of: the filter housing being formed of an increased elasticity polyolefin polymer having elongation and glass transition properties that allow for stretching of the housing during a freezing event rather than rupturing; a sleeve having a volume of air entrapped therein within and being disposed in the interior of the filter cartridge; and the filter housing formed of a conventional polyolefin having a wall thickness great enough to resist freeze induced expansion stresses. A method of forming a freeze resistant filter cartridge assembly is further included.

1 . A freeze resistant filter cartridge, comprising: 
 a filter housing, a filter head and a filter element, the cartridge having at least one component selected from a list of components consisting of: 
 the filter housing comprising an increased elasticity polyolefin polymer having elongation and glass transition properties that allow for stretching of the housing during a freezing event rather than rupturing; and  
 a sleeve having volume of air entrapped therein and being disposed in the interior of the filter cartridge.  
   
     
     
         2 . The filter cartridge of  claim 1  having as a component a filter housing comprising an increased elasticity polyolefin polymer, wherein the increased elasticity polyolefin polymer has an ultimate elongation percentage exceeding 100 percent.  
     
     
         3 . The filter cartridge of  claim 2  having as a component a filter housing comprising an increased elasticity polyolefin polymer, wherein the increased elasticity polyolefin polymer has an ultimate elongation percentage exceeding 700 percent.  
     
     
         4 . The filter cartridge of  claim 1  having as a component a filter housing comprising an increased elasticity polyolefin polymer, wherein the increased elasticity polyolefin polymer is selected from the group consisting essentially of: a metallocene modified polyethylene, a metallocene modified polypropylene, a low density polyethylene and a high density polyethylene.  
     
     
         5 . The filter cartridge of  claim 4  having as a component a filter housing comprising an increased elasticity polyolefin polymer, wherein the increased elasticity polyolefin polymer is Dowlex®.  
     
     
         6 . The filter cartridge of  claim 4  having as a component a filter housing comprising an increased elasticity polyolefin polymer, wherein the increased elasticity polyolefin polymer is Alathon®.  
     
     
         7 . The filter cartridge of  claim 1  having as a component a filter housing comprising an increased elasticity polyolefin polymer, wherein the filter head is formed of a conventional, rigid polyolefin polymer.  
     
     
         8 . The filter cartridge of  claim 1  having as a component a filter housing comprising an increased elasticity polyolefin polymer, wherein the filter head is formed of an increased elasticity polyolefin polymer.  
     
     
         9 . The filter cartridge of  claim 1  having as a component a sleeve, wherein the sleeve being formed of closed-cell foam.  
     
     
         10 . The filter cartridge of  claim 1  having as a component a sleeve, wherein the sleeve is formed of suitable non-popping bubble wrap.  
     
     
         11 . The filter cartridge of  claim 10  having as a component a sleeve, wherein the filter housing is formed of a conventional, rigid polyolefin polymer.  
     
     
         12 . The filter cartridge of  claim 11  having as a component a sleeve, wherein the conventional, rigid polyolefin polymer is a talc-filled polypropylene polymer.  
     
     
         13 . The filter cartridge of  claim 1  wherein the filter housing comprises a molded insert weld-ring.  
     
     
         14 . The filter cartridge of  claim 1  wherein the filter housing comprises an external thread and the filter head includes an internal thread, the external thread and internal thread being rotatably couplable.  
     
     
         15 . The filter cartridge of  claim 14  wherein an adhesive further promotes coupling of the filter housing and the filter head.  
     
     
         16 . A method of forming a freeze resistant filter cartridge assembly, comprising: 
 forming a filter cartridge including a filter housing and disposing a filter media in the filter housing and forming at least one filter cartridge component selected from a list of steps consisting of;    forming the filter housing of an increased elasticity polyolefin polymer having elongation and glass transition properties that allow for stretching of the housing during a freezing event rather than rupturing; and    forming a sleeve having volume of air is entrapped therein within and disposing the sleeve in the interior of the filter housing.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein forming at least one filter component comprises forming the filter housing of an increased elasticity polyolefin polymer and wherein the increased elasticity polyolefin polymer has an ultimate elongation percentage exceeding 100 percent.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein forming at least one filter component comprises forming the filter housing of an increased elasticity polyolefin polymer and wherein the increased elasticity polyolefin polymer has an ultimate elongation percentage exceeding 700 percent.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein forming at least one filter component comprises forming the filter housing of an increased elasticity polyolefin polymer and wherein the increased elasticity polyolefin polymer is selected from the group consisting essentially of: a metallocene modified polyethylene, a metallocene modified polypropylene, a low density polyethylene and a high density polyethylene.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein forming at least one filter component comprises forming the filter housing of an increased elasticity polyolefin polymer and wherein the increased elasticity polyolefin polymer is Dowlex®.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19  wherein forming at least one filter component comprises forming the filter housing of an increased elasticity polyolefin polymer and wherein the increased elasticity polyolefin polymer is Alathon®.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising the step of: 
 forming a filter cap such that the filter cap is matable to the filter housing and forming the filter cap of a convention, rigid polyolefin polymer.  
 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising the step of: 
 forming an filter cap such that the filter cap is matable to the filter housing and forming the filter cap of an increased elasticity polyolefin polymer.  
 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 16 , including forming the sleeve of closed-cell foam.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 16 , including forming the sleeve of suitable non-popping bubble wrap.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 16 , including forming the filter housing of a conventional, rigid polyolefin polymer.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the conventional, rigid polyolefin polymer is a talc-filled polypropylene polymer.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein forming the filter cartridge comprises a molding process.