Spin-on filter cartridge

Claim 1

A SPIN-ON FLUID FILTER CARTRIDGE, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION; (A) AN OPEN ENDED CYLINDRICAL HOUSING HAVING A RADIALLY ENLARGED ANNULAR PORTION AT ITS OPEN END; (B) A SELF SUPPORTING FILTER UNIT POSITIONED THEREIN, SAID FILTER UNIT HAVING TOP AND BOTTOM END PLATE MEMBERS, SAID BOTTOM END PLATE MEMBER HAVING AN AXIALLY EXTENDING SKIRT PORTION HAVING A RADIAL DIMENSION SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE OPEN END OF SAID HOUSING AND INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE INLET PORT DISPOSED ADJACENT THE PERIPHERY OF SAID BOTTOM END PLATE MEMBER AND FURTHER INCLUDING A CENTRALLY AXIALLY DISPOSED PORT HAVING AN AXIALLY EXTENDING FLANGE PORTION, A CENTRALLY DISPOSED PERFORATED TUBE MEMBER DISPOSED INTERMEDIATE SAID END PLATE MEMBERS AND CONTINUOUS CONCENTRICALLY DISPOSED FILTERING MEDIA IN SEALING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID TOP AND BOTTOM END PLATE MEMBERS; AND (C) A FURTHER AXIALLY DISPLACED END PLATE MEMBER, HAVING A CENTRALLY AXIALLY DISPOSED OUTLET PORT AND A RADIALLY DISPLACED INLET PORT, SAID OUTLET PORT BEING IN FLUID ENGAGEMENT WITH THE CENTRALLY AXIALLY DISPOSED PORT IN SAID BOTTOM END PLATE MEMBER ON SAID FILTER UNIT AND SAID INLET PORT BEING IN FLUID COMMUNICATION WITH SAID INLET PORT DISPOSED ADJACENT THE PERIPHERY OF SAID BOTTOM END PLATE MEMBER, SAID FURTHER END PLATE MEMBER BEING SEALINGLY DISPOSED IN THE OPEN END OF SAID HOUSING IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE AXIALLY EXTENDING SKIRT PORTION OF THE BOTTOM END PLATE MEMBER OF SAID FILTER UNIT AND THE RADIALLY EXTENDING ANNULAR PORTION OF SAID CYLINDRICAL HOUSING.