Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
A filter cartridge having an axially elongate central hollow passageway, and a cylindrical filtration element surrounding said passageway which includes a mass of nonwoven melt blown continuous support and filtration fibers, said support fibers having on average relatively larger diameters as compared to said filtration fibers, wherein said relatively larger diameter support fibers define a random matrix of open areas in at least one annular zone of said filtration element, and wherein said filtration fibers are integrally co-located with said relatively larger diameter support fibers within said at least one annular zone of said filtration element so as to be disposed physically within said random matrix of open areas defined by said support fibers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
114 words
A filter cartridge having an axially elongate central hollow passageway, and a cylindrical filtration element surrounding said passageway which includes a mass of nonwoven melt blown continuous support and filtration fibers, said support fibers having on average relatively larger diameters as compared to said filtration fibers, wherein said relatively larger diameter support fibers define a random matrix of open areas in at least one annular zone of said filtration element, and wherein said filtration fibers are integrally co-located with said relatively larger diameter support fibers within said at least one annular zone of said filtration element so as to be disposed physically within said random matrix of open areas defined by said support fibers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A filter cartridge as in claim 1, wherein at least some of said support and filtration fibers are unitarily fused one to another.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
A filter cartridge as in claim 1, which includes another annular zone comprised of a mass of melt blown, nonwoven filtration fibers which exhibit a different filtration property as compared to the filtration fibers in said at least one annular zone.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A filter cartridge as in claim 3, wherein said another annular zone is also comprised of said support fibers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A filter cartridge as in claim 4, wherein said support fibers of said at least one and another annular zones have different diameters as compared to one another.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A filter cartridge as in claim 1, wherein said support and filtration fibers are formed of the same or different polymer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
A filter cartridge as in claim 6, wherein said support and/or said filtration fibers are formed of a polymer which is selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, polyamides, polyesters, acetals, fluoropolymers, polyphenylene sulfides, biodegradable polymers, liquid crystal polymers, polyetheretherketones, polystyrenes, polymers of vinylidene monomers, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
95 words
A filter cartridge which includes at least one annular zone formed of a mass of melt blown nonwoven fibers comprised of continuous support fibers having a mean diameter of between about 60 μm to about 500 μm which define a random matrix of open areas in said at least one annular zone, and continuous filtration fibers having a mean diameter of between about 1 μm to about 50 μm which are integrally co-located with said relatively larger diameter support fibers so as to be disposed physically within said random matrix of open areas defined thereby.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
95 words
A filter cartridge which includes at least one annular zone formed of a mass of melt blown nonwoven fibers comprised of continuous support fibers having a mean diameter of between about 60 μm to about 500 μm which define a random matrix of open areas in said at least one annular zone, and continuous filtration fibers having a mean diameter of between about 1 μm to about 50 μm which are integrally co-located with said relatively larger diameter support fibers so as to be disposed physically within said random matrix of open areas defined thereby.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
A filter cartridge as in claim 1 or 8, wherein said support fibers are present in said at least one annular zone in an amount between about 10 to about 60 wt. %.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
A filter cartridge as in claim 8, wherein at least some of said support and filtration fibers are unitarily fused one to another.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
A filter cartridge as in claim 8, which includes another annular zone comprised of a mass of melt blown, nonwoven filtration fibers which exhibit a different filtration property as compared to the filtration fibers in said at least one annular zone.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
A filter cartridge as in claim 11, wherein said another annular zone is also comprised of said support fibers.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
A filter cartridge as in claim 12, wherein said support fibers of said at least one and another annular zones have different diameters as compared to one another.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A filter cartridge as in claim 9, wherein said support and filtration fibers are formed of the same or different polymer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
A filter cartridge as in claim 14, wherein said support and/or said filtration fibers are formed of a polymer which is selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, polyamides, polyesters, acetals, fluoropolymers, polyphenylene sulfides, biodegradable polymers, liquid crystal polymers, polyetherether ketones, polystyrenes, polymers of vinylidene monomers and mixtures thereof.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
77 words
A filter cartridge having an axially elongate central hollow passageway, and a cylindrical filtration element surrounding said passageway, said filtration element including at least one annular zone which includes continuous support and filtration fibers which are co-located and intimately entangled with one another, wherein said support fibers have a mean diameter of between about 60 μm to about 500 μm, and said filtration fibers have a mean diameter of between about 1 μm to about 50 μm.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
77 words
A filter cartridge having an axially elongate central hollow passageway, and a cylindrical filtration element surrounding said passageway, said filtration element including at least one annular zone which includes continuous support and filtration fibers which are co-located and intimately entangled with one another, wherein said support fibers have a mean diameter of between about 60 μm to about 500 μm, and said filtration fibers have a mean diameter of between about 1 μm to about 50 μm.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
A filter cartridge as in claim 16, wherein said support fibers are present in said at least one annular zone in an amount between about 10 to about 60 wt. %.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
A filter cartridge as in claim 16, wherein at least some of said support and filtration fibers are unitarily fused one to another.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
41 words
A filter cartridge as in claim 16, which includes another annular zone comprised of a mass of melt blown, nonwoven filtration fibers which exhibit a different filtration property as compared to the filtration fibers in said at least one annular zone.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
A filter cartridge as in claim 19, wherein said another annular zone is also comprised of said support fibers.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
A filter cartridge as in claim 20, wherein said support fibers of said at least one and another annular zones have different diameters as compared to one another.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
A filter cartridge as in claim 16, wherein said support and filtration fibers are formed of the same or different polymer.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
49 words
A filter cartridge as in claim 22, wherein said support and/or said filtration fibers are formed of a polymer which is selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, polyamides, polyesters, acetals, fluoropolymers, polyphenylene sulfides, biodegradable polymers, liquid crystal polymers, polyetherether ketones, polystyrenes, polymers of vinylidene monomers and mixtures thereof.