Filter with an open-celled elastomer foam

Claim 1

A liquid filter comprising an open cell, compressible elastomeric foam body and a tubular gate, said body formed with an axial opening, at least a portion of said gate disposed within said axial opening in contact with an interior surface of said body, said gate having an open end and a closed end, said open end constituting an inlet that is operative to receive a liquid to be filtered, said body characterized by open cells which range from 10 to 400 pores per linear inch of said foam body, said body capable of transmitting a liquid from said axial opening to an exterior surface of said body, said gate characterized by interspersed open and closed increments, said closed increments at the margins of said tubular gate, said closed increments imparting rigidity to said gate, a portion of said closed increments received within said axial opening a distance that is at least equal to a radial distance from a longitudinal axis of said axial opening to the exterior surface of said body, said inlet being a closed increment of said gate, said open increments disposed between said closed increments within said axial opening of said body, the entire periphery of said tubular gate disposed within said axial opening being in contact with said interior surface of said body, said open increments transmitting a liquid directed through said inlet to said interior surface of said body, a liquid entering said inlet being directed through said gate and passing outwardly through said open increments to said interior surface of said body, a filtered liquid exiting from the exterior surface of said body, said external exterior surface of said body being a compressible foam boundary, said body characterized by a 25 percent indentation load deflection value in the range of 1 to 200, the 25 percent indentation load deflection value being defined as pounds force per 50 square inch required for 25 percent indentation, said foam boundary being an integral continuum of said body and being supported substantially only by said gate means and said body, said elastomeric foam being composed of a material selected from the class consisting of urethane polymers and vinyl polymers.