Method and apparatus for reinforcing a tubular-shaped sealing collar extending from a filter apparatus

Abstract

A method and apparatus for reinforcing a tubular-shaped sealing collar, extending from a filter cartridge are provided, by embedding, or substantially encapsulating, a reinforcement element within the tubular-shaped sealing collar, for resisting a change in circumference of at least a portion of the tubular-shaped collar. The collar may be formed from a resiliently compressible foam material, and the reinforcement element may be formed from a substantially non-compressible material.

1 . A method for reinforcing a tubular-shaped sealing collar, extending from a filter cartridge about an axis of attachment of the filter cartridge, and having a body of resilient material defining a circumference of the collar about the axis of attachment, the method comprising, embedding a reinforcement element within the tubular shaped sealing collar, for resisting a change in the circumference of at least a portion of the tubular shaped collar about the axis of attachment.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, forming the substantially tubular-shaped collar from a resiliently compressible foam material, and forming the reinforcement element from a substantially non-compressible material.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the reinforcement element defines a circumference of the reinforcement element about the axis of attachment, and the method further comprises, forming tubular collar from a plastic foam material and the reinforcement element from a material that is substantially resistant to a change in circumference of the reinforcement element about the axis of attachment.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising, forming the tubular collar from a plastic material.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising, adjusting the resistance of the reinforcement element to a change in circumference of the reinforcement element about the axis of attachment, by selectively reducing cross sectional area of portions of the reinforcement element.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, forming the tubular sealing collar from a resilient material having a capability for resisting a change in circumference of at least a portion of the tubular sealing collar, and forming the reinforcement element to have a greater capability than the resilient material for resisting a change in the circumference of the reinforcement element about the axis of attachment.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising, utilizing the resilient material for anchoring the reinforcement element within the body of the tubular-shaped sealing collar.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising, providing one or more openings through the reinforcement element for extension therethrough of a portion or portions of the resilient material of the body of the sealing collar.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, forming the reinforcement element as a substantially tubular-shaped ring, disposed about the axis of attachment.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising, forming the substantially tubular-shaped ring to be include a break therein.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising, forming the substantially tubular-shaped ring to include one or more reductions in cross sectional area thereof.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising, reducing the cross sectional area of the tubular-shaped ring in one or more selected areas thereof by providing one or more openings extending through the one or more selected areas of the reinforcement element.  
     
     
         13 . A filter apparatus, comprising: 
 a filter cartridge, defining an axis of attachment of the filter cartridge, and including a filter element, and a tubular-shaped sealing collar, extending from the filter cartridge about the axis of attachment of the filter cartridge;    the tubular-shaped sealing collar having a body of resilient material defining a circumference of the collar about the axis of attachment;    the tubular-shaped sealing collar also having a reinforcement element embedded within the body of tubular shaped sealing collar, for resisting a change in the circumference of at least a portion of the tubular shaped collar about the axis of attachment.    
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the substantially tubular-shaped collar is formed from a resiliently compressible foam material, and the reinforcement element is formed from a substantially non-compressible material.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the reinforcement element defines a circumference of the reinforcement element about the axis of attachment, the tubular collar is formed from a plastic foam material, and the reinforcement element is formed from a material that is substantially resistant to a change in circumference of the reinforcement element about the axis of attachment.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further wherein the tubular collar is formed from a plastic material.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the reinforcement element defines a cross sectional area thereof, with selected portions of that cross sectional area being selectively reduced in area, for adjusting the resistance of the reinforcement element to a change in circumference of the reinforcement element about the axis of attachment.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the tubular sealing collar is formed from a resilient material having a capability for resisting a change in circumference of at least a portion of the tubular sealing collar, and the material from which the reinforcement element is formed has a greater capability than the resilient material for resisting a change in the circumference of the reinforcement element about the axis of attachment.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein, the resilient material operatively anchors the reinforcement element within the body of the tubular-shaped sealing collar.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein, the reinforcement element includes openings therein for extension therethrough of portions of the resilient element.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein, the reinforcement element is a substantially tubular-shaped ring, disposed about the axis of attachment.  
     
     
         22 . A filter cartridge, defining an axis of insertion of the filter cartridge, and including a filter element, and a tubular-shaped sealing collar extending axially from the filter element about the axis of insertion of the filter cartridge; 
 the tubular-shaped sealing collar having a body of resilient material defining a circumference of the collar about the axis of insertion;    the tubular-shaped sealing collar also having a reinforcement element in the form of a substantially tubular-shaped ring embedded within the body of tubular shaped sealing collar, for resisting a change in the circumference of at least a portion of the tubular shaped collar about the axis of insertion.    
     
     
         23 . The filter cartridge of  claim 22 , wherein the reinforcement element defines a circumference of the reinforcement element about the axis of attachment, the tubular collar is formed from a substantially elastically deformable foam material, and the reinforcement element is formed from a material that is substantially resistant to a change in circumference of the reinforcement element about the axis of attachment.  
     
     
         24 . The filter cartridge of  claim 22 , wherein, the body of the tubular-shaped sealing collar includes a distal end thereof, and defines an axial length of the collar extending from the filter element to the distal end of the body of the collar, and the reinforcement element is configured to provide differing resistance to a change in the circumference of a portion of the tubular shaped collar about the axis of attachment at one or more points along the axial length of the collar.  
     
     
         25 . The filter cartridge of  claim 24 , wherein, the reinforcement element and body are cooperatively configured to provide a lead-in area of the collar providing reduced resistance to a change in the circumference of a portion of the tubular shaped collar about the axis of attachment at the distal end of the collar, as the cartridge is moved along the axis of insertion during installation of the filter cartridge, to thereby facilitate operative attachment of the filter cartridge to a fluid system.