Frangible bonded disposable filtration unit with recoverable filter

Claim 1

A disposable filtration unit having a recoverable filter membrane comprising: (a) a hollow cylindrical receptacle for receiving a filtrate, said receptacle having an upper rim portion defining an internal shoulder; (b) a support plate fixed to said shoulder, said plate having at least one opening therethrough; (c) a filter membrane removably disposed upon said support plate over said at least one opening; (d) an annular gasket overlying said filter membrane and support plate; (e) a hollow cylindrical shell for receiving a liquid to be filtered, said shell having an outer periphery and a lower neck portion extending into the rim portion of said receptacle, a lower end face of said neck portion pressing said gasket into sealing engagement with said support plate and filter membrane, said shell being removably attached to said receptacle by discrete frangible bonds located at spaced intervals about the outer periphery of said shell and said upper rim portion of said receptacle and being integrally formed between said outer periphery of said shell and an upper end of said rim portion of said receptacle, said bonds being the sole points of attachment between the shell and the receptacle.