Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
188 words
A filter for fluids, comprising: a plurality of segments of channel material having a substantially U-shaped cross section including a cross member having lateral edges and a leg connected to each of said edges and extending outwardly therefrom in a direction, at least one of said legs including a series of longitudinally spaced tabs formed therein and having a free end projecting substantially towards said cross member, said segments being connected end-to-end to form a closed perimeter filter frame with said legs of said segments projecting towards the interior of said frame; a filter medium having an outer peripheral configuration substantially corresponding to that of said frame and having an outer peripheral edge portion received between said legs of said segments, whereby said filter medium is received in said frame and presents first and second faces surrounded by said frame; and an elongated member fixed to at least two of said segments by engagement with at least one of said tabs of each of said segments and extending across one of said faces of said filter medium to thereby support said filter medium against dislocation from said frame.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
188 words
A filter for fluids, comprising: a plurality of segments of channel material having a substantially U-shaped cross section including a cross member having lateral edges and a leg connected to each of said edges and extending outwardly therefrom in a direction, at least one of said legs including a series of longitudinally spaced tabs formed therein and having a free end projecting substantially towards said cross member, said segments being connected end-to-end to form a closed perimeter filter frame with said legs of said segments projecting towards the interior of said frame; a filter medium having an outer peripheral configuration substantially corresponding to that of said frame and having an outer peripheral edge portion received between said legs of said segments, whereby said filter medium is received in said frame and presents first and second faces surrounded by said frame; and an elongated member fixed to at least two of said segments by engagement with at least one of said tabs of each of said segments and extending across one of said faces of said filter medium to thereby support said filter medium against dislocation from said frame.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
A filter frame as in claim 1, further comprising a second elongated member fixed to at least two other of said segments by engagement with at least one of said tabs of each of said associated segments and extending across said one of said faces of said filter medium to thereby support said filter medium against dislocation from said frame.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A filter frame as in claim 2, wherein both of said legs include said series of tabs.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
59 words
A filter frame as in claim 1, further comprising a second elongated member fixed to at least two of said segments by engagement with at least one of said tabs of each of said associated segments and extending across the other of said faces of said filter medium to thereby support said filter medium against dislocation from said frame.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A filter frame as in claim 4, wherein both of said legs include said series of tabs.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
261 words
A method of forming a filter for fluids, comprising the steps of: providing at least one length of channel material each having a substantially U-shaped cross section including a cross member having lateral edges and a leg connected to each of said edges and extending outwardly therefrom in a direction, at least one of said legs including a series of longitudinally spaced tabs formed therein and having a free end projecting substantially towards said cross member; providing a portion of filter material; cutting at least one of said lengths of channel material into segments each corresponding to a dimension of a filter assembly to be replaced; cutting said portion of filter material into a filter medium having a peripheral size and configuration substantially equal to that of the filter assembly to be replaced; assembling said segments of channel material together with said segments connected end-to-end to form a closed perimeter filter frame with said legs of said segments projecting towards the interior of said frame; assembling said filter medium and said filter frame together with an outer peripheral edge portion of said filter medium received between said legs of said segments, whereby said filter medium is received in said frame and presents first and second faces surrounded by said frame; and fixing an elongated member to at least two of said segments by engagement with at least one of said tabs of each of said segments whereby said elongated member extends across one of said faces of said filter medium to thereby support said filter medium against dislocation from said frame.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
261 words
A method of forming a filter for fluids, comprising the steps of: providing at least one length of channel material each having a substantially U-shaped cross section including a cross member having lateral edges and a leg connected to each of said edges and extending outwardly therefrom in a direction, at least one of said legs including a series of longitudinally spaced tabs formed therein and having a free end projecting substantially towards said cross member; providing a portion of filter material; cutting at least one of said lengths of channel material into segments each corresponding to a dimension of a filter assembly to be replaced; cutting said portion of filter material into a filter medium having a peripheral size and configuration substantially equal to that of the filter assembly to be replaced; assembling said segments of channel material together with said segments connected end-to-end to form a closed perimeter filter frame with said legs of said segments projecting towards the interior of said frame; assembling said filter medium and said filter frame together with an outer peripheral edge portion of said filter medium received between said legs of said segments, whereby said filter medium is received in said frame and presents first and second faces surrounded by said frame; and fixing an elongated member to at least two of said segments by engagement with at least one of said tabs of each of said segments whereby said elongated member extends across one of said faces of said filter medium to thereby support said filter medium against dislocation from said frame.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as in claim 6, wherein said step of assembling said segments together and said step of assembling said filter medium and filter frame are performed simultaneously.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
65 words
A method as in claim 7, further comprising the step of fixing a second elongated member to at least two other of said segments by engagement with at least one of said tabs of each of said associated segments whereby said elongated member extends across said one of said faces of said filter medium to thereby support said filter medium against dislocation from said frame.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as in claim 8, wherein said step of providing channel material comprises both of said legs including said series of tabs.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
64 words
A method as in claim 7, further comprising the step of fixing a second elongated member to at least two of said segments by engagement with at least one of said tabs of each of said associated segments whereby said elongated member extends across the other of said faces of said filter medium to thereby support said filter medium against dislocation from said frame.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as in claim 10, wherein said step of providing channel material comprises both of said legs including said series of tabs.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as in claim 6, wherein said step of assembling said filter medium and filter frame is performed subsequent to said step of fixing said elongated member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
65 words
A method as in claim 12, further comprising the step of fixing a second elongated member to at least two other of said segments by engagement with at least one of said tabs of each of said associated segments whereby said elongated member extends across said one of said faces of said filter medium to thereby support said filter medium against dislocation from said frame.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as in claim 13, wherein said step of providing channel material comprises both of said legs including said series of tabs.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
64 words
A method as in claim 12, further comprising the step of fixing a second elongated member to at least two of said segments by engagement with at least one of said tabs of each of said associated segments whereby said elongated member extends across the other of said faces of said filter medium to thereby support said filter medium against dislocation from said frame.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as in claim 15, where said step of providing channel material comprises both of said legs including said series of tabs.