KX Technologies v. Dilmen - Complaint

Case 3:16-cv-00745 Document 1 Filed 05/17/16 Page 1 of 20
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT
KX TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Plaintiff
v.
Dilmen LLC d/b/a Coral Premium Water Filters,
and d/b/a Performancesupplies,
and
Huseyin Dilmen d/b/a Mirage Basics
Defendants
)
)
)
)
)
) Complaint for Damages and Injunctive
) Relief for Patent Infringement and
) Unfair Trade Practices
)
)
)
)
)
COMPLAINT
Plaintiff KX Technologies, LLC ("KXT") alleges as follows:
I. NATURE OF THE ACTION
1. This is a civil action seeking damages and injunctive relief for patent infringement under
the patent laws of the United States, Title 35 of the United States Code 1, et seq., and unfair
trade practices under the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act (CUTPA), C.G.S. 42-110a,
et seq.
II. JURISDICTION AND VENUE
2. Jurisdiction of this Court is proper pursuant to Title 28 U.S.C. 1331 and 1338(a).
3. This cause of action also arises in part under the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act
(CUTPA), C.G.S. 42-110a, et seq. Subject matter jurisdiction for the CUTPA claim is
conferred on this Court by 28 U.S.C. 1338(b).
4. Supplemental jurisdiction for the CUTPA claim is conferred on this Court by 28 U.S.C.
1367(a).
5. Venue is proper in this district pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1391(b), 1391(c), and 1400(b).
III. PARTIES
6. Plaintiff KX Technologies, LLC ("KXT") is a Delaware limited liability company
authorized to do business in the State of Connecticut, having a principal place of business at 55
Railroad Avenue, West Haven, Connecticut 06516.
7. Plaintiff KXT is informed and believes that defendant Dilmen LLC is a limited liability
company organized and existing under the laws of the state of Texas. It is assigned File Number
802093087 by the Texas Secretary of State, and has a principal place of business at 5700 Braxton
Drive, Suite 100, Houston, TX 77036. Exhibit A.
8. Plaintiff is informed and believes that defendant Dilmen LLC d/b/a Coral Premium Water
Filters, and doing business under the umbrella entity of Performancesupplies (at Amazon.com),
transacts business in this district; has repeatedly solicited business in this district through various
interactive websites, including amazon.com, ebay.com, and sears.com (Exhibit B); has
distributed, used, offered for sale, or sold the infringing devices alleged herein with the
reasonable expectation that such devices are to be used or consumed in this district; has
distributed, used, offered for sale or sold other goods with the reasonable expectation that such
goods are to be used or consumed in this district; and derives revenue for goods used or
consumed, or for services rendered, in this district.
9. Plaintiff KXT is informed and believes that defendant Huseyin Dilmen is an individual
having a principal place of business at 5700 Braxton Drive, Suite 100, Houston, TX 77036.
10. Plaintiff KXT is informed and believes that defendant Dilmen LLC and defendant
Huseyin Dilmen (collectively, "Defendants") distribute, offer for sale, and/or sell the infringing
devices alleged herein under the following business entities: Performancesupplies, Coral
Premium Water Filters, and Mirage Basics; with the reasonable expectation that such devices are
to be used or consumed in this district. Exhibits B & C.
11. Plaintiff KXT is informed and believes that defendant Huseyin Dilmen is the sole
operator and owner of Dilmen LLC d/b/a Coral Premium Water Filters.
12. Plaintiff is informed and believes that Huseyin Dilmen directs and controls the infringing
activities of the business entities Dilmen LLC, dilmenllc, Mirage Basics, Coral Premium Water
Filters, and Performancesupplies, the latter being an umbrella entity for Dilmen LLC. Exhibits B
& C.
13. Plaintiff KXT is informed and believes that defendant Huseyin Dilmen is the sole owner
of the United States Trademark Registration No. 4,984,472 for selling product in interstate
commerce under the mark CORAL PREMIUM WATER FILTERS, including water filters for
refrigerators. Exhibit D.
14. Plaintiff KXT is informed and believes that defendant Huseyin Dilmen is the sole owner
of the United States Trademark Application Serial No. 86/613,293 for selling water filters in
interstate commerce under the mark MIRAGE BASICS. Exhibit E.
IV. FACTUAL BACKGROUND
15. Plaintiff KXT is the assignee and rightful owner of the following United States Patents,
which were duly and legally issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office: a) U.S.
Patent No. 8,673,146, issued on March 18, 2014, titled "PUSH FILTER WITH FLOATING
KEY LOCK," (the "'146 Patent"; Exhibit F); and b) U.S. Patent No. 8,137,551, issued on March
20, 2012, titled "PUSH FILTER WITH FLOATING KEY LOCK" (the "'551 Patent"; Exhibit G);
(collectively referred to herein as the "PUSH-PUSH Technology Patents").
16. Relevant independent claims of the '146 Patent include Claims 1 and 15. Claim 1 of the
'146 Patent is directed to a filter housing assembly:
1. A filter housing assembly comprising:
a filter housing for enclosing a filter media, said filter housing having a body
and a top portion for forming a fluid-tight seal with said body, said filter
housing top portion including:
an ingress port;
an egress port;
a filter key located on said top portion and having a top surface, longitudinal
sides, and lateral sides, each of said filter key longitudinal sides including
a plurality of spaced protrusions or fingers extending laterally from said
top surface, wherein said fingers include winged extensions having slanted
or angled faces for mating attachment to a filter base or manifold.
'146 Patent, Claim 1, Exhibit F.
17. Claim 15 of the '146 Patent is directed to a method for extracting a filter housing
assembly from a filter base:
15. A method for extracting a filter housing assembly from a filter base comprising:
applying an axial insertion force to said filter housing assembly already
connected to said filter base towards said filter base thereby inserting a
filter key on said filter housing assembly further into a slidable floating
lock of said filter base, said filter key having longitudinal sides with a
plurality of fingers or spaced protrusions on each of said longitudinal
sides;
releasing said slidable floating lock, such that said floating lock moves relative
to said filter key under a resilient retraction force;
aligning said plurality of fingers on each longitudinal side of said filter key
between fingers or drive keys on said floating lock; and
applying an axial extraction force to said filter housing assembly to remove
said filter housing assembly from said filter base.
'146 Patent, Claim 15, Exhibit F.
'551 Patent is directed to a filter housing:
a filter housing for enclosing a filter media, said filter housing having a body
and a top portion for forming a fluid-tight seal with said body, said filter
housing top portion including:
an ingress port;
an egress port;
a filter key located on said top portion and having a top surface, longitudinal
sides, and lateral sides, said filter key including spaced protrusions or
fingers on said longitudinal sides of said filter key extending laterally from
said top surface, wherein said filter key includes a locking nub or tab for
attachment to said top portion.
'551 Patent, Claim 1, Exhibit G.
19. Claim 49 of the '551 Patent is directed to a method of attaching a filter housing to a filter
base:
49. A method for attaching a filter housing assembly to a filter base comprising:
inserting ingress and egress ports of said filter housing assembly into ingress
and egress stanchions of said filter base;
inserting a filter key of said filter housing assembly having lateral fingers with
winged extensions into a slidable floating lock having lateral fingers or
drive keys by using said filter key to shift said slidable floating lock
longitudinally, whereby said lateral fingers of said filter key transverse said
lateral fingers or drive keys of said floating lock; and
releasing said filter housing assembly so that resilient members in said filter
base apply an extraction force to said filter housing, moving said filter
housing assembly slightly in an axial extraction direction; and
providing a retraction force to said floating lock during said releasing to align
said floating lock fingers or drive keys with said filter key fingers, such that
extraction of said filter housing assembly is prohibited.
'551 Patent, Claim 49, Exhibit G.
20. On December 9, 2015, Defendants were notified by United States Certified Mail (No.
7009 2250 0002 0062 6793) that they were offering for sale and/or selling water filters that
infringed the PUSH-PUSH Technology Patents, and were requested by Plaintiff KXT to cease
and desist the infringing activities. Exhibit H.
21. Plaintiff KXT is the assignee and rightful owner of the following United States Patents,
which were duly and legally issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office: a) U.S.
Patent No. D656,578, issued on March 27, 2012, titled "CASSETTE FILTER," (the "'578
Patent"; Exhibit I); b) U.S. Patent No. D656,579, issued on March 27, 2012, titled "CASSETTE
FILTER AND COVER PLATE" (the "579 Patent"; Exhibit J); c) U.S. Patent No. D656,580,
issued on March 27, 2012, titled "CASSETTE FILTER MANIFOLD" (the "580 Patent"; Exhibit
K) (the design patents collectively referred to herein as the "CASSETTE FILTER Design
Patents"); and d) U.S. Patent No. 9,061,225 issued on June 23, 2015, titled "REINFORCED
RECEIVER FOR CASSETTE FILTER LOCKING CLIP" (the "225 Patent"; Exhibit L); (the
design patents and the Reinforced Receiver utility patent collectively referred to herein as the
"CASSETTE FILTER Technology Patents").
'225 Patent is directed to a receiver for a cassette filter housing:
1. A receiver for a cassette filter housing having an upper housing surface the
receiver comprising:
an arrow shaped elongated member parallel with an upper surface of the
cassette, the elongated member having ends and including a base portion
attached to the upper housing surface the cross-section of which is a
substantially planer segment extending to the upper surface, and an upper
receiver portion having at least one cavaliered retaining surface; and
a first reinforcement member extending outward from the base portion adjacent
one of the ends of the elongated member and perpendicular to the
elongated member, and a second reinforcement member extending
outward from the base portion adjacent the opposite end of the elongated
member and perpendicular to the elongated member the reinforcement
members affixed to the base portion and the upper housing surface;
whereby the elongated member is engagable with a locking clip having at least
one foot engagable with the at least one retaining surface when the
receiver and locking clip are in the locked position and the reinforcement
member provides support for the receiver.
'225 Patent, Claim 1, Exhibit L.
23. Claim 11 of the '225 Patent is directed to a receiver for a cassette filter housing:
11. A receiver for a cassette filter housing having an upper housing surface the
receiver comprising:
a fixed, immobile elongated member parallel with an upper surface of the
cassette, the elongated member including a base portion attached to the
upper housing surface and an upper receiver portion having at least one
retaining surface, said base portion being substantially centered on the
elongated member and retains the elongated member in a fixed position;
and
at least one triangular reinforced end member integrally formed with the
elongated member and the upper housing surface;
whereby the elongated member is engagable with a slidably engaging
manifold locking clip having at least one foot engagable with the at least
one retaining surface when the receiver and locking clip are in the locked
position and the at least one triangular reinforced end member provides
support for the receiver.
'225 Patent, Claim 11, Exhibit L.
24. On November 11, 2015, Defendants were notified by United States Certified Mail (No.
7009 2250 0002 0062 6670) that they were offering for sale and/or selling water filters that
infringed the CASSETTE FILTER Technology Patents, and were requested by Plaintiff KXT to
cease and desist the infringing activities. Exhibit M.
25. On February 16, 2016, Defendant Huseyin Dilmen was further notified by email to
remove the infringing Coral Premium Water Filters from the Amazon.com website. Exhibit N.
V. CLAIMS FOR RELIEF
FIRST COUNT
Patent Infringement of U.S. Patent No. 8,673,146
26. Plaintiff realleges and incorporates herein the allegations of paragraphs 1-25 inclusive.
27. Plaintiff KXT is informed and believes that Defendants have infringed Claims 1, 3, 6, and
7 of the '146 Patent under 35 U.S.C. 271(a) by making, using, offering for sale and/or selling in
this district and elsewhere in the United States a filter housing assembly identified by the
invention disclosed and claimed in the '146 Patent. Such infringing device includes the
replacement filter by Coral Premium Water Filters for the Frigidaire PureSource ULTRAWF
filter cartridge and by Mirage Basics ("Defendants' ULTRAWF Replacement Cartridge").
Exhibits B & C.
28. Photographs of Defendants' ULTRAWF Replacement Cartridge and its packaging, and
photographs depicting the salient features of the filter key, are attached as Exhibit O.
29. Defendants' ULTRAWF Replacement Cartridge embodies all of the limitations and
features of Claims 1, 3, 6, and 7 of the '146 Patent as shown in the annotated photos of Exhibit O,
including:
a) a filter housing 10 having an ingress port 12 and an egress port 14;
b) a filter key 16 located on the top portion of the filter housing, having
longitudinal sides 18 and lateral sides 20 including a plurality of spaced
protrusions or fingers 22 extending from the top surface of the filter key,
where the fingers include winged extensions having slanted or angled faces
24;
c) the filter key being attached to the filter housing top portion by a snap fit,
friction fit, welding, or bonding;
d) the ingress port and said egress port being off axial center of the filter housing;
and
e) the spaced protrusions or fingers being integrally formed with the filter key.
30. Plaintiff KXT is informed and believes that Defendants have infringed Claim 15 of the
'146 Patent under 35 U.S.C. 271(b) by actively inducing infringement of the method for
extracting a filter housing assembly from a filter base identified by the method disclosed and
claimed.
31. Defendants' inducement is identified by the method of extracting the Defendants'
ULTRAWF Replacement Cartridge as delineated on the infringing device's packaging, which
embodies the method steps of Claim 15 of the '146 Patent, specifically:
a) applying an axial insertion force to the filter housing already connected to the filter base
towards the filter base; releasing the slidable floating lock; aligning the plurality of
fingers on the floating lock; and
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b) applying an axial extraction force to the filter housing assembly to remove the filter
housing assembly from the filter base ("Push the end of the old filter straight out until it
clicks (and releases)"; Ref.: Directions on Product Packaging, Exhibit O).
32. Plaintiff KXT is informed and believes that offers for sale and sales of said infringing
device have been widely and repeatedly made in the United States by and on behalf of
Defendants through interactive websites on the Internet and through other means.
33. Plaintiff KXT has placed Defendants on notice of the '146 Patent and of the infringement.
34. Plaintiff KXT is informed and believes that Defendants knew of the '146 Patent, and
knew that their activities would lead to direct infringement of the filter housing assembly claims,
and inducing infringement of the method claim for extracting a filter housing assembly,
identified by the '146 Patent.
35. Plaintiff KXT is informed and believes that the infringement and inducement of
infringement of the '146 Patent by Defendants by making, using, offering for sale and selling said
infringing device, and by continuing to do so after having been placed on notice of the '146
Patent, has been repeated and willful with conscious disregard for the rights of Plaintiff KXT,
and will continue unless enjoined by this Court.
36. As a direct and proximate result of Defendants' acts of patent infringement and
inducement of infringement, Plaintiff KXT has been and continues to be injured, and has
sustained and will continue to sustain substantial damages in an amount not presently known.
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37. Plaintiff KXT has no adequate remedy of law against these acts of patent infringement.
Unless Defendants are preliminarily and permanently enjoined from their unlawful and willful
infringement of the '146 Patent, Plaintiff KXT will suffer irreparable harm.
SECOND COUNT
39. Plaintiff KXT is informed and believes that Defendants have infringed Claims 1, 2, 6, 7,
10, and 11of the '551 Patent under 35 U.S.C. 271(a) by making, using, offering for sale and/or
selling in this district and elsewhere in the United States a filter housing assembly identified by
the invention disclosed and claimed in the '551 Patent. Such infringing device includes
Defendants' ULTRAWF Replacement Cartridge. Exhibits B & C.
40. Defendants' ULTRAWF Replacement Cartridge embodies all of the limitations and
features of Claims 1, 2, 6, 7, 10, and 11 of the '551 Patent as shown in the attached, annotated
Exhibit O photos, including:
a) a filter housing 10 having an ingress port 12 and an egress port 14;
b) a filter key 16 located on the top portion of the filter housing, having longitudinal sides 18
and lateral sides 20 including a plurality of spaced protrusions or fingers 22 on the
longitudinal sides extending laterally from the top surface of the filter key, where the
filter key includes a locking nub or tab for attachment to the top portion 26;
c) the fingers including winged extensions having slanted or angled faces 24;
d) the filter key being removably attached to the top portion of the filter housing;
e) the filter key being attached to the filter housing top portion by a snap fit, friction fit,
welding, or bonding;
f) the ingress port and said egress port being off axial center of the filter housing; and
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g) the spaced protrusions or fingers being integrally formed with the filter key.
41. Plaintiff KXT is informed and believes that Defendants have infringed Claim 49 of the
'551 Patent under 35 U.S.C. 271(b) by actively inducing infringement of the method for
attaching a filter housing assembly to a filter base identified by the method disclosed and
claimed.
42. Defendants' inducement is identified by the method of attaching the Defendants'
ULTRAWF Replacement Cartridge as delineated on the infringing device's packaging, which
embodies the method steps of Claim 49 of the '551 Patent, specifically:
a) inserting ingress and egress ports of the filter housing assembly into the stanchions of the
filter base, inserting a filter key into a slidable floating lock of the filter base, releasing the
filter housing assembly so that resilient members in the filter base apply an extraction
force ("Push the new filter straight in until it clicks"); and
b) providing a retraction force to the floating lock during the releasing to align the floating
lock fingers or drive keys with the finger key fingers.
Ref.: Directions on Product Packaging, Exhibit O.
knew that their activities would lead to infringement of the filter housing assembly claims, and
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inducing infringement of the method claim for extracting a filter housing assembly, as identified
by the '551 Patent.
46. Plaintiff KXT is informed and believes that the infringement and inducement of
infringement of the '551 Patent by Defendants by making, using, offering for sale and selling said
infringing device, and by continuing to do so after having been placed on notice of the '551
Patent, has been repeated and willful with conscious disregard for the rights of Plaintiff KXT,
47. As a direct and proximate result of Defendants' acts of patent infringement and
inducement of infringement, Plaintiff KXT has been and continues to be injured, and has
sustained and will continue to sustain substantial damages in an amount not presently known.
THIRD COUNT
Patent Infringement of the CASSETTE FILTER Design Patents
49. Plaintiff KXT realleges and incorporates herein the allegations of paragraphs 1-48
inclusive.
50. Plaintiff KXT is informed and believes that Defendants have infringed the CASSETTE
FILTER Design Patents by making, using, distributing, offering for sale and/or selling in this
district and elsewhere in the United States a cassette filter that embodies the designs of U.S.
Patent Nos. D656,578, D656,579, and D656,580. Such infringing device includes Defendants'
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WF2CB Replacement Cassette Filter for Frigidaire ("Defendants' Replacement Cassette Filter").
Exhibits B &C.
51. Defendants' WF2CB Replacement Cassette Filter embodies all of the ornamental features
of CASSETTE FILTER Design Patents.
52. Plaintiff KXT is informed and believes that offers for sale and sales of Defendants'
WF2CB Replacement Cassette Filter have been widely and repeatedly made in the United States
by and on behalf of Defendants through interactive websites on the Internet and through other
means.
53. Plaintiff KXT has placed Defendants on notice of the CASSETTE FILTER Design
Patents and of the infringement. Exhibit M.
54. Plaintiff KXT is informed and believes that Defendants knew of the CASSETTE FILTER
Design Patents, and knew that their activities would lead to infringement of the ornamental
features as identified individually by the CASSETTE FILTER Design Patents.
55. Plaintiff KXT is informed and believes that the infringement of the CASSETTE FILTER
Design Patents by Defendants by distributing, offering for sale, and selling said infringing device,
and by continuing to do so after having been placed on notice of the CASSETTE FILTER Design
Patents, has been repeated and willful with conscious disregard for the rights of Plaintiff KXT,
56. As a direct and proximate result of Defendants' acts of patent infringement, Plaintiff KXT
has been and continues to be injured, and has sustained and will continue to sustain substantial
damages in an amount not presently known.
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infringement of the CASSETTE FILTER Design Patents, Plaintiff KXT will suffer irreparable
harm.
FOURTH COUNT
59. Plaintiff KXT is informed and believes that Defendants have infringed Claims 1-4 and
11-16 of the '225 Patent under 35 U.S.C. 271(a) by making, using, distributing, offering for
sale, and/or selling in this district and elsewhere in the United States a cassette filter identified by
the invention disclosed and claimed in the '225 Patent. Such infringing device includes
Defendants' Replacement Cassette Filter. Exhibits B & C.
60. Defendants' Replacement Cassette Filter embodies all of the limitations and features of
Claims 1-4 and 11-16 of the '225 Patent as shown in the attached Exhibit P photos, including:
a) a fixed, immobile elongated member parallel 40 with an upper surface of the cassette 42,
the elongated member 40 including a base portion 44 attached to the upper housing
surface 42 and an upper receiver portion 46 having at least one retaining surface 48, said
base portion being substantially centered on the elongated member and retains the
elongated member in a fixed position; and
b) at least one triangular reinforced end member 50 integrally formed with the elongated
member and the upper housing surface;
c) the first and second reinforcement members being affixed to the upper receiver portion;
d) each end of the elongated member includes a pair of reinforcement members 52a,b
extending in opposite directions from each other and substantially perpendicular to the
elongated member length;
e) the receiver is made of polypropylene;
f) the triangular reinforced member 50 includes stepped portions 52a,b; and
g) the triangular reinforced member is solid.
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knew that their activities would lead to infringement of the receiver for a cassette filter housing,
as identified by the '225 Patent.
64. Plaintiff KXT is informed and believes that the infringement of the '225 Patent by
Defendants by making, using, offering for sale and selling said infringing device, and by
continuing to do so after having been placed on notice of the '225 Patent, has been repeated and
willful with conscious disregard for the rights of Plaintiff KXT, and will continue unless
enjoined by this Court.
65. As a direct and proximate result of Defendants' acts of patent infringement, Plaintiff KXT
has been and continues to be injured, and has sustained and will continue to sustain substantial
damages in an amount not presently known.
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FIFTH COUNT
VIOLATION OF THE CONNECTICUT UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES ACT UNDER
CONNECTICUT GENERAL STATUTES 42-110a, ET SEQ.
68. This is an action for unfair methods of competition, and unfair and deceptive acts and
practices in the conduct of the Defendants' trade in violation of the Connecticut Unfair Trade
Practices Act ("CUTPA"), pursuant to C.G.S. 42-11Oa, et seq.
69. This Court has pendent jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. 1367(a). Venue is proper under 28
U.S.C. 1391.
70. Plaintiff KXT is informed and believes that upon receiving notice of infringement
Defendants' transferred offers for sale of the aforementioned infringing products to other
websites, and offered for sale the aforementioned infringing products under other brand names in
a deliberate attempt to conceal Defendants' on-going infringing activities, and to obfuscate
Plaintiff's attempts to enforce its intellectual property.
71. By committing the acts herein alleged, Defendants have engaged in unfair methods of
competition and unfair and deceptive acts and practice in the conduct of trade within the State of
Connecticut in violation of C.G.S. 42-110a, et seq., causing confusion to consumers in the
trade, damage and loss profits to Plaintiff.
72. Defendants knew or should have known that the aforementioned acts are in violation of
C.G.S. 42-110a, et seq.
73. Plaintiff KXT has suffered an ascertainable loss of money and property as a result of
Defendants' acts or practices in this district prohibited by C.G.S. 42-110a, et seq.
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V. PRAYER FOR RELIEF

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff KX Technologies, LLC prays for relief as follows:
1. That the Defendants, its officers, agents, servants, employees and attorneys, and all other
persons, firms, or corporations acting in concert or participation with it, be enjoined and
restrained, during the pendency of this action and permanently thereafter, from making, using,
offering for sale or selling any and all goods which infringe the aforementioned United States
patents;
2. That Plaintiff KXT recover its damages sustained as a result of Defendants' infringement
pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 284;
3. That Defendants' infringement be adjudged to be willful and this case declared exceptional,
and that Plaintiff's damages be trebled, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 284;
4. That Defendants' infringement be adjudged to be willful and this case declared exceptional,
and that Plaintiff recover its reasonable costs, expenses and attorney fees, pursuant to 35 U.S.C.
285;
5. That Defendants, its respective officers, agents, servants, employees, and attorneys, and all
other persons, firms, or corporations acting in concert or participation with it, be ordered to
vacate or otherwise destroy infringing products, advertisements, catalogs, brochures, and alter all
internet sites that promote the infringing goods to remove any and all reference to the infringing
products;
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6. That Defendants account for (a) all gains, profits, and advantages derived by Defendants
by said trade practices and unfair competition, and (b) all gains, profits, and advantages derived
by Defendants by their infringement of Plaintiffs intellectual property.
7. That Plaintiff granted such other and further relief as the Court deems just and proper.
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VI. DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL

Pursuant to Rule 38(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Plaintiff KX
Technologies, LLC hereby demands a jury trial on all issues raised by the claims herein and
triable of right by a jury.
Respectfully submitted,
KX TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Date: May 17, 2016
by:
/s/ Robert Curcio

Robert Curcio
Fed. Bar No. CT18791
/s/ David R. Pegnataro

David R. Pegnataro
Fed. Bar No. CT28854
DELIO, PETERSON & CURCIO, LLC
700 State Street, Suite 402
New Haven, CT 06511
Tel: 203-787-0595
Fax: 203-787-5818
Email: efilings@delpet.com
Attorneys for Plaintiff
KXIN905_Complaint.doc
Case 3:16-cv-00745 Document 1-1 Filed 05/17/16 Page 1 of 1
EXHIBIT A
EXHIBIT B
EXHIBIT C
EXHIBIT D
EXHIBIT E
EXHIBIT F

US 8,673,146 B2
1
PUSH FILTER WITH FLOATING KEY LOCK
5,147,722, and are incorporated herein by reference thereto.

One of the uses of the instant filter apparatus is as a water
filtration apparatus for a refrigerator. Refrigerators are appliances with an outer cabinet, a refrigeration compartment disposed within the outer cabinet and having a rear wall, a pair of
opposing side walls, at least one door disposed opposite the
rear wall, a top and a bottom and a freezer compartment
disposed in the outer cabinet and adjacent to the refrigeration
compartment. It is common for refrigerators to have a water
dispenser disposed in the door and in fluid communication
with a source of water and a filter for filtering the water.
Further, it is common for refrigerators to have an ice dispenser
in the door and be in fluid communication with a source of
water and a filter for filtering the water. It has been found that
the filter assembly of the instant invention is useful as a filter
for a refrigerator having a water dispenser and/or an ice
dispenser.
This invention relates to a filtering apparatus, specifically a

filter housing apparatus to facilitate easy removal and
replacement of a filter housing from a mechanical support,
and more specifically, to a push filter design that activates a
floating key lock, where the key may be used simultaneously
as a lock and as an identifier for particular filter attributes. The
mechanical support may be situated inline, and in fluid communication, with influent and effluent piping, such as within
a refrigerator. More specifically, the invention relates to a
filter housing and mount, whereby the filter housing may be
attached to, and removed from, the mount by a push-actuated
release. A controlled attachment or detachment of the filter
sump, containing the filter media, is activated by the axial
push of the sump towards the mechanical support. The specific key lock design allows a user to identify and match
certain filter configurations received by the mechanical support, and reject other filter configurations. An internal shutoff,
activated by the push-actuated release, blocks spillage during
filter housing removal and replacement.
10
15
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a water filtration system having a
locking and unlocking mechanism for changing the filter
when the filter media has served its useful life. The use of
liquid filtration devices is well known in the art as shown in
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,135,645, 5,914,037 and 6,632,355.Although
these patents show filters for water filtration, the filters are
difficult to replace owing to their design and placement. For
example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,135,645 discloses a filter cartridge
as a plug-in cartridge with a series of switches to prevent the
flow of water when the filter cartridge is removed for replacement. The filter must be manually inserted and removed and
have a switch activated to activate valve mechanisms so as to
prevent the flow of water when the filter is removed. The
coverofthe filter is placed in the sidewall ofa refrigerator and
is employed to activate the switches that activate the valves.
The filter access is coplanar with the refrigerator wall and
forces an awkward access to the filter cartridge.
In U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/511,599 filed on
Aug. 28, 2006, for Huda, entitled "FILTER HOUSING
APPARATUS WITH ROTATING FILTER REPLACEMENT MECHANISM," a filter assembly having a rotator
actuating mechanism including a first internal rotator and a
second internal rotator is taught as an efficient way to insert,
lock, and remove the filter housing from its base. A simple
push mechanism actuates the self-driving release and change
over means that hold and release the filter housing sump, and
provide influent shutoff to prevent leaking and spillage. Rotational shutoff and locking mechanisms are activated and
released by axial force on the filter housing at the commencement of the filter changing procedure.
The instant invention is particularly useful as the water
filtering system for a refrigerator having water dispensing
means and, optionally, an ice dispensing means. The water
used in the refrigerator or water and ice may contain contaminants from municipal water sources or from underground
well or aquifers. Accordingly, it is advantageous to provide a
water filtration system to remove rust, sand, silt, dirt, sediment, heavy metals, microbiological contaminants, such as
Giardia cysts, chlorine, pesticides, mercury, benzene, toluene, MTBE, Cadmium bacteria, viruses, and other know contaminants. Particularly useful water filter media for microbiological contaminants include those found in U.S. Pat. Nos.
6,872,311, 6,835,311, 6,797,167, 6,630,016, 6,331,037, and
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The present invention is directed to, in a first aspect, a filter

housing assembly comprising: a filter housing for enclosing a
filter media, the filter housing having a body and a top portion
for forming a fluid-tight seal with the body, the filter housing
top portion including: an ingress port; an egress port; and a
filter key located on the top portion and having a top surface,
longitudinal sides, and lateral sides, the filter key including
spaced protrusions or fingers on the longitudinal sides of the
filter key extending laterally from the top surface. The fingers
include winged extensions having slanted or angled faces,
and may include a diamond shaped cross-section.
The filter key may include a boss extending in an axial
direction above the top surface of the filter key, the boss
having an angled face of predetermined width ramping
upwards from the filter key top surface and lateral segments or
wings extending beyond the boss width. The filter housing
assembly may include a filter manifold attached to the filter
housing top portion, the filter manifold comprising an attachment structure for fixably receiving the filter key. One of the
ingress or egress ports may be located on the filter manifold.
The spaced protrusions or fingers on the filter key may form
a predetermined pattern for identifying different filter
attributes unique to a filter encased within the filter housing.
The filter key may also be color-coded, transparent, translucent, mirrored, textured, materially modified, or having a
conductive signature for identifying different filter attributes
specific to a filter encased within the filter housing. The filter
key may include a locking nub or tab for attachment to the top
portion. The top portion may include a filter key location boss
or support member extending axially upwards from the top
portion at a distance away from an axial center point, and filter
key lateral support members located opposite the filter key
location boss on the other side of the axial center point and
extending axially upwards from the top portion, the filter key
lateral support members having a separation approximately
equal to the filter key width, the filter key location boss and the
filter key lateral support members forming a structural support with exposed surfaces for attaching the filter key to the
top portion.
In a second aspect, the present invention is directed to a
filter housing assembly comprising: a filter housing for
enclosing a filter media, the filter housing having a body and
a top portion for forming a fluid-tight seal with the body, the
filter housing top portion including: an ingress port; an egress
port; a filter manifold attached to the filter housing top portion, the filter manifold comprising an attachment structure
for receiving the filter key; the filter key located on the top

US 8,673,146 B2
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portion and having a top surface, longitudinal sides, and

lateral sides, the filter key including spaced protrusions, drive
keys, or fingers on the longitudinal sides of the filter key
extending laterally from the top surface, and having winged
extensions with slanted or angled faces, wherein the winged
extensions have a diamond shaped cross-section.
In a third aspect, the present invention is directed to a filter
filter media; a filter head having at least one port in fluid
communication with the filter media, the filter head forming
a fluid-tight seal with the filter housing; a filter manifold
comprising: a base portion axially centered about the filter
head; a port in fluid communication with the filter media; and
a first attachment structure located on the base portion for
receiving a filter key; and the filter key having a top surface, a
bottom, longitudinal sides, and lateral sides, the filter key
including: spaced protrusions or fingers on the longitudinal
sides of the filter key extending laterally from the top surface
and having winged extensions; and a second attachment
structure located on the filter key bottom for attaching the
filter key to the first attachment structure on the filter manifold. The filter key fingers may include slanted or angled faces
on the winged extensions. The winged extensions may have a
diamond shaped cross-section.
The filter head may include a filter key location boss or
support member extending axially upwards from the filter
head top surface at a distance away from the filter head axial
center point, and filter key lateral support members located
opposite the filter key location boss on the other side of the
axial center point and extending axially upwards from the
filter head top surface, the filter key lateral support members
having a separation approximately equal to the filter key
width, the filter key location boss and the filter key lateral
support members forming a structural support with exposed
surfaces for attaching the filter key to the filter head. The filter
key location boss may include an aperture for receiving a
locking nub or tab from the filter key. The filter key second
attachment structure may comprise a complementary groove
or slot on the filter key bottom to attach with the axially
extending protrusion of the filter manifold. The filter manifold may also include radially extending arms about the base
portion, providing structural support for a shroud. The filter
key may include a boss extending in an axial direction above
the top surface of the filter key, the boss having an angled face
of predetermined width ramping upwards from the filter key
top surface and lateral segments or wings extending beyond
the boss width.
In a fourth aspect, the present invention is directed to a filter
base for releasably connecting to a complementary mating
filter housing assembly comprising: a base platform having
fluid ingress and egress ports; and a floating lock in sliding
communication with the base platform, having a bottom surface, a top surface, and longitudinal and lateral sides, the
floating lock including: spaced protrusions, drive keys, or
fingers on the longitudinal sides extending laterally inwards,
including at least one shaped protrusion, finger, or drive key
for slidably contacting the complementary mating filter housing assembly, the at least one shaped protrusion, finger, or
drive key including an angled face exposed towards the bottom surface, and an edge or wedge opposite the angled face
for releasably securing the complementary mating filter housing assembly.
The floating lock includes a position stop centered about
the lateral sides, and located above the at least one drive key
to provide a physical stop during insertion of the complementary mating filter key. The position key includes a track structure longitudinally across the floating lock. The filter base
includes an enclosure for receiving the floating lock, the

enclosure allowing the floating lock to slidably move therein.
A rear plate may be attached to the base platform for at least
partially housing the floating lock. At least one resilient member may be in contact with the floating lock to provide a
retraction force when the floating lock is acted upon by the
filter housing assembly during insertion or extraction of the
filter housing assembly.
In a fifth aspect, the present invention is directed to a filter
base for releasably receiving a complementary mating filter
housing assembly comprising: a base platform having a top
surface; a port for fluid ingress; a port for fluid egress; an
upper ingress stanchion in fluid communication with the
ingress port, the upper ingress stanchion extending upwards
from the base platform top surface, the upper ingress stanchion including a first shutoff plug and a resilient member to
apply axial or vertical force to the first shutoff plug to block
fluid flow from the ingress port during extraction of the filter
housing assembly; an upper egress stanchion in fluid communication with the egress port, the upper egress stanchion
extending upwards from the base platform top surface, the
upper egress stanchion including a second shutoff plug and a
resilient member to apply axial or vertical force to the second
shutoff plug to block fluid flow from the egress port during
extraction of the filter housing assembly; a lower ingress
stanchion in fluid communication with the upper ingress stanchion and the ingress port, the lower ingress stanchion
extending axially downwards from the base platform for
receiving an ingress port from the filter housing assembly; a
lower egress stanchion in fluid communication with the upper
egress stanchion and the egress port, the lower egress stanchion extending axially downwards from the base platform
for receiving an egress port from the filter housing assembly;
an enclosure for at least partially receiving a floating lock, the
enclosure allowing the floating lock to slidably move therein;
the floating lock having longitudinal sides and lateral sides,
including: spaced fingers, drive keys, or protrusions located
on at least one of the longitudinal sides for releasably mating
with fingers of a complementary mating filter key, at least one
of the fingers, drive keys, or protrusions located on an inside
face of the floating lock longitudinal side, and having an
angled surface for slidably contacting fingers on the complementary mating filter housing assembly, such that when the
fingers of the complementary mating filter housing assembly
are inserted within the floating lock, the angled surface slidably contacts the filter housing assembly finger, shifting the
floating lock in a longitudinal direction, the at least one of the
fingers, drive keys, or protrusions including a wedge portion
on one end for releasably securing the filter housing assembly
fingers; a position key centered about the floating block,
above and adjacent the at least one drive key for providing a
physical stop for the filter housing assembly fingers during
insertion or extraction of the filter housing assembly; a rear
plate attached to the base platform for housing the floating
lock; and at least one resilient member attached to the floating
lock to provide a retraction force when the floating lock is
slidably acted upon by the filter housing assembly during
insertion or extraction.
In a sixth aspect, the present invention is directed to a filter
housing assembly comprising: a non-floating port including:
a fluid ingress port; a fluid egress port; an ingress stanchion in
fluid communication with the ingress port; an egress stanchion in fluid communication with the egress port; and a
formed recess for receiving a floating lock, the recess at least
partially enclosing the floating lock and having a width and
length that allows the floating lock to shift longitudinally
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US 8,673,146 B2
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therein; the floating lock having a bottom surface, a top surface, and longitudinal and lateral sides, and seated within the
non-floating port formed recess, the floating lock including:
at least one drive key on the longitudinal side extending
laterally inwards at the bottom surface for slidably receiving
an angled boss or winged extension from a complementary
mating filter housing assembly, the at least one drive key
including an angled portion exposed towards the bottom surface, and an edge or wedge on each of the drive key bottom for
releasably contacting with a portion of the complementary
mating filter housing assembly boss or winged extension; a
position key centered about lateral sides of the floating lock,
and located above the at least one drive key to provide a
physical stop during insertion of the complementary mating
filter housing assembly; at least one resilient member in contact with the floating lock for applying a longitudinal retraction force in a direction that tends to push or pull the floating
lock back to an original position; a rear plate for slidably
securing the floating lock within the non-floating port; shutoff
plugs in each of the stanchions forterminating fluid flow from
the ingress and egress ports when the complementary mating
filter housing assembly is removed from the filter base; a
resilient member within each of the stanchions for applying
an axial extraction force to the complementary mating filter
housing assembly, and simultaneously move the shutoff
plugs into position to cease fluid flow when the complementary mating filter housing assembly is extracted.
In a seventh aspect, the present invention is directed to a
filter base in combination with a filter housing assembly, the
combination comprising: a filter base having an ingress port
and an egress port on a base platform; a slidable floating lock
in slidable contact of the filter base, the floating lock having a
plurality of drive keys or lateral extensions separated by gaps;
a resilient member in contact with the floating lock, providing
a retraction force for the floating lock; and a filter housing
assembly including: a filter key having a plurality of lateral
extensions separated by gaps, such that when the filter housing assembly is inserted into the filter base, the fingers of the
filter key slidably contact the lateral extensions of the floating
lock to shift the floating lock relative to the base platform,
allowing the fingers on the filter key to traverse between the
lateral extensions on the floating lock, and upon retraction of
the floating lock by the resilient member, the fingers on the
filter key align with the lateral extensions on the floating lock
to prevent extraction of the filter housing assembly.
The floating lock includes a bottom surface, a top surface,
and longitudinal and lateral sides, and wherein the lateral
extensions include drive keys on the longitudinal sides
extending laterally inwards at the bottom surface for slidably
receiving the filter key, each of the drive keys including an
angled portion exposed towards the bottom surface, and an
edge or wedge on each of the drive key bottom for releasably
contacting with a portion of the filter key; and a position key
centered about the floating lock, and located above the drive
keys to provide a physical stop during insertion of the filter
housing assembly.
The combination may also include a rear plate for securing
the floating lock within the filter base; shutoff plugs in each of
the stanchions for terminating fluid flow from the ingress and
egress ports when the filter housing assembly is extracted
from the filter base; and a resilient member within each of the
stanchions for applying an axial extraction force to the filter
housing assembly, and simultaneously moving the shutoff
plugs into position to cease fluid flow when the filter housing
assembly is extracted.
In an eight aspect, the present invention is directed to a
combination comprising: a base platform having fluid ingress

and egress ports; an ingress stanchion in fluid communication
with the ingress port; an egress stanchion in fluid communication with the egress port; a floating lock in sliding communication with the base platform, having a bottom surface, a
top surface, and longitudinal and lateral sides, the floating
lock including: spaced protrusions or fingers on the longitudinal sides extending laterally inwards; at least one drive key
for slidably contacting a boss of a filter key of the filter
housing assembly, the at least one drive key including an
angled face exposed towards the filter housing assembly, and
an edge or lip adjacent the angled face for releasably securing
the boss of the filter key upon insertion of the filter housing
assembly; at least one resilient member in contact with the
floating lock for applying a longitudinal retraction force in a
direction that tends to push or pull the floating lock back to an
original position; a filter housing for enclosing a filter media,
the filter housing having a body and a top portion for forming
a fluid-tight seal with the body, the filter housing top portion
including: a filter housing ingress port; a filter housing egress
port; and a filter key located on the top portion and having a
top surface, longitudinal sides, and lateral sides, the filter key
sides of the filter key extending laterally from the top surface;
and a boss extending in an axial direction above the top
surface of the filter key, the boss having an angled face of
predetermined width ramping upwards from the filter key top
surface and laterally extending segments or wings extending
beyond the boss width; such that, when the filter housing
assembly is attached to the filter base, the angled face of the
boss of the filter key slidably contacts the angled face of the at
least one drive key of the floating lock to shift the floating lock
relative to the base platform, allowing the fingers on the filter
key to traverse between the fingers on the floating lock, and
upon retraction of the floating lock by the at least one resilient
member, the fingers on the filter key align with the fingers on
the floating lock to prevent extraction of the filter housing
assembly.
In a ninth aspect, the present invention is directed to a
method for attaching a filter housing assembly to a filter base
comprising: inserting ingress and egress ports of the filter
housing assembly into ingress and egress stanchions of the
filter base; inserting a filter key of the filter housing assembly
having lateral fingers with winged extensions into a slidable
floating lock having lateral fingers or drive keys by using the
filter key to shift the slidable floating lock longitudinally,
whereby the lateral fingers of the filter key transverse the
lateral fingers or drive keys of the floating lock; and releasing
the filter housing assembly so that resilient members in the
filter base apply an extraction force to the filter housing,
moving the filter housing assembly slightly in an axial extraction direction; and providing a retraction force to the floating
lock during the releasing to align the floating lock fingers or
drive keys with the filter key fingers, such that extraction of
the filter housing assembly is prohibited.
In a tenth aspect, the present invention is directed to a
method for extracting a filter housing assembly from a filter
base comprising: applying an axial insertion force to the filter
housing assembly already connected to the filter base towards
the filter base thereby inserting a filter key on the filter housing assembly further into a slidable floating lock of the filter
base; releasing the slidable floating lock, such that the floating
lock moves relative to the filter key under a resilient retraction
force; aligning fingers on the filter key between fingers or
drive keys on the floating lock; and applying an axial extraction force to the filter housing assembly to remove the filter
housing assembly from the filter base.
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US 8,673,146 B2
In an eleventh aspect, the present invention is directed to a

refrigerator in combination with a filter assembly comprising:
an outer cabinet; a refrigeration compartment disposed within
the outer cabinet and having a rear wall, a pair of opposing
side walls, at least one door disposed opposite the rear wall, a
top and a bottom; a freezer compartment disposed in the outer
cabinet and adjacent to the refrigeration compartment; a
water dispenser disposed in the door and in fluid communication with the filter assembly with automated assembly for
changing a sump and filter media from the refrigerator; the
filter assembly comprising: a filter housing for enclosing a
filter key located attached to the filter housing and having a
including spaced protrusions or fingers on the longitudinal
sides of the filter key extending laterally from the top surface.
It is an object of this invention to provide a filter housing
apparatus mounted to a base and having an automatic locking
mechanism for simple replacement and removal.
apparatus and base attached by a push activated, slideably
moveable, floating lock.
It is another object of this invention to provide a filter
housing apparatus mounted on a surface having non-rotating
locking means with pressure activation for replacement and
removal.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a
filter housing apparatus that allows for a keyed identification
of the filter.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a filter
housing apparatus for use with water dispensing and\or ice
dispensing apparatus whereby filtered water is provided to the
water dispensing and/or ice dispensing apparatus.
FIG. 3C is a lateral side view of the floating lock of FIG.

3A.
FIG. 3D depicts a top view of the floating lock of FIG. 3A.
FIG. 3E depicts cross-sectional longitudinal side view of
the floating lock of FIG. 3A.
FIG. 4A is a perspective view of one embodiment of the
filter manifold.
FIG. 4B is a top plan view of a second embodiment of the
filter manifold with an extension support member.
FIG. 4C is a perspective view of a second embodiment of
the filter manifold.
FIG. SA is a side view ofone embodiment of the filter head
of the present invention.
FIG. SB is a bottom perspective view of the filter head of
FIG. SA.
FIG. SC is a top perspective view of the filter head of FIG.
SA.
FIG. SD is another embodiment of the filter head with a
snap fit lock for the filter key.
FIG. SE is a bottom perspective view of the filter head of
FIG. SD.
FIG. SF is a top perspective view of the filter head depicting
the aperture for receiving the filter key.
FIGS. 6A and 6B are exploded views of a second embodiment of the filter assembly of the present invention, showing
a filter key having an extended boss.
FIG. 7A is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the
filter key of the present invention having an extended boss.
FIG. 7B is a bottom perspective view of the filter key of
FIG. 7A.
FIG. 7C depicts a top plan view of the filter key of FIG. 7A.
FIG. 7D depicts a side plan view of the filter key of FIG.
7A.
FIG. 7E depicts an end or lateral side view of the embodiment of the filter key of FIG. 7A, showing the boss rising
above the plane created by the fingers, and two wings extending laterally outwards from the boss.
FIG. 7F is a perspective view of a another embodiment of
the filter key of the present invention showing a locking nub
located on the bottom portion on a lateral side.
FIG. SA depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of
the floating lock of the present invention.
FIG. SB is a top view of the floating lock of FIG. SA.
FIG. SC is a cross-sectional view of the floating lock of
FIG. SA depicting a drive key located at one end of the
floating lock on the longitudinal or side panel.
FIG. SD depicts an exploded view of the drive key of FIG.
SC showing the edge angle and face.
FIG. SE depicts a perspective view ofa floating lock having
an extension member.
FIG.SFisasideviewofthefloatinglockofFIG.SEhaving
FIG. SG is a lateral or cross-sectional view of the floating
lock of FIG. SE with an extension member.
FIG. 9A is a perspective view of a non-floating port of the
present invention.
FIG. 9B is a top plan view of the non-floating port of FIG.
9A.
FIG. lOA is a top plan view of one embodiment of the rear
plate of the present invention.
FIG. lOB is a bottom perspective view of the rear plate of
FIG. lOA.
FIG. lOC is a top plan view ofa second embodiment of the
rear plate of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is an exploded view of a filter assembly of the
present invention, showing a filter key having a boss, connected to a filter manifold having extension supports.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features of the invention believed to be novel and the
elements characteristic of the invention are set forth with
particularity in the appended claims. The figures are for illustration purposes only and are not drawn to scale. The invention itself, however, both as to organization and method of
operation, may best be understood by reference to the
description of the preferred embodiment( s), which follows,
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in
which:
FIG. lA is a top exploded view ofone embodiment of the
filter assembly of the present invention.
FIG. lB is a side plan view the embodiment of the filter
housing assembly of FIG. lA.
filter key of the present invention.
FIG. 2B is a lateral side view of the filter key of FIG. 2A.
FIG. 2C depicts a bottom plan view of the filter key of FIG.
2A showing a groove and a locking nub or tab for attachments.
FIG. 2D depicts a perspective view from the opposite side
of the filter key of FIG. 2C.
FIG. 2E depicts a bottom view of the filter key of FIG. 2A.
FIG. 2F is a longitudinal side view of the filter key of FIG.
2A.
FIG. 3A depicts a perspective view of one embodiment of
the floating lock or sliding lock of the present invention.
FIG. 3B is a perspective view from the opposite side of the
floating lock of FIG. 3A.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED

EMBODIMENT(S)
manly used in the art for sealing adjoining components, typically adjoining plastic components. As discussed in further
detail below, filter key 5 is connected to filter manifold 3.
Filter key 5 may be formed as one piece with filter manifold
3, or may be securely attached by other methods, such as
bonding, welding, press fit, friction fit, or the like. Filter key
5 may also be removably attached for replacement by an end
user. Filter manifold 3 is attached to filter head 2. Filter
manifold 2 may be removably attached as well for replacement by an end user. Filter media 8 is located in filter housing
1. Each end of filter media 8 is secured by a cap that facilitates
the direction of the fluid being treated by the filter. At one end,
filter media 8 is secured by a closed end cap 7, and at the other
end by open end cap 6. Filter media 8 may be any filter media
known in the art, and preferably, is a carbon block filter. It is
typically shaped in a similar fashion as filter housing 1, which
in the preferred embodiment is cylindrical. Open end cap 6 is
designed to interface and be in fluid communication with
filter head 2. Filter housing assembly 200 is a finished assembly including filter housing 1, which encompasses filter
media 8 by closed end cap 7 at one end, and open end cap 6 at
the other. Generally, a-ring seals, such as a-ring seal 9, are
used to prevent water leakage where different components are
expected to mate. Filter manifold 3 and filter key 5 are joined
with filter head 2, and secured to filter housing 1 to form the
assembled filter housing apparatus 200. These components
may be integral, permanently secured, or removably attached
to one another, and to filter head 2. FIG. lB is a side plan view
of the preferred embodiment of the filter assembly of the
present invention.
FIG. 2A is a perspective view of filter key 5. FIG. 2B is a
lateral side view of filter key 5. As previously noted, the
bottom of filter key 5 is attached to filter manifold 3 by any
number of fastening schemes, or may be integrally formed
with filter manifold 3. FIG. 2C depicts a groove 51 that is
preferably shaped to receive a complementary protrusion on
filter manifold 3, and is preferably shaped to receive a dovetail protrusion; however, other connecting, complementary
shapes are not excluded. The connection of filter key 5 with
filter manifold 3 may be bonded, sonic welded, press fitted,
friction fitted, or the like. As depicted in the illustrative
embodiment, groove 51 is shaped to accept a snap feature for
a press or snap fit located on filter manifold 3. In this manner
filter key 5 may be removably attached to filter manifold 3.
Similarly, filter manifold 3 may be designed to be removably
attached to filter head 2. Thus, the design has more flexibility
to introduce and accommodate different key configurations,
which can be used to designate specific filter types, and purposely reject other filter types.
FIG. 4A depicts a perspective view of the one embodiment
of filter manifold 300. Port 310 is shown off center of filter
manifold 300. FIG. 4A depicts the filter manifold without
extension support members. Preferably, port 310 is an outlet
port; however, the present invention is not limited to a specific
ingress and egress location, and may have these ports interchanged. When port 310 is used as an egress or outlet port,
filter manifold 300 takes fluid from filter media 8 through the
center port of open cap 6, and directs fluid flow radially
outwards from the axial center to port 310. In this embodiment, the ingress port is located on filter head 2. By locating
the ingress and egress ports off axis, filter housing assembly
200 has a more robust design, with enhanced structural integrity for mounting to the filter base, and for remaining fixably
in place during attachment. Referring to FIGS. 4A-4C, in a
preferred attachment scheme for filter key 5, a protrusion 32
or 320 is formed on or nearthe center line of filter manifold 3
or 300. Protrusion 32 or 320 is preferably a rectangular
In describing the preferred embodiment of the present

invention, reference will be made herein to FIGS. 1to11 of
the drawings in which like numerals refer to like features of
the invention. Features of the invention are not necessarily
shown to scale.
The present invention is directed to a filter housing assembly for filtration of liquids, including the interception of
chemical, particulate, and/or microbiological contaminants.
The use of the mechanical locking assembly of the filter
housing without the need for excess force and tight tolerances
essential in prior art filter housings makes for easy and frequent filter changes and optimal filter performance. The filter
housing assembly of the present invention provides simplified filter changes to minimize process downtime and without
recourse to tools. A simple push mechanism actuates the
self-driving release and change over means that hold and
release the filter housing sump or filter cartridge, and provides
influent shutoff means to prevent leaking and spillage. A
floating lock or sliding lock responsive to an axial insertion
force from the filter cartridge moves perpendicular or radially
to the axial motion of the sump, and allows a specific filter key
to insert within the floating lock. Once inserted, the floating
lock retracts towards its original position under a resilient
force, such as two springs in tandem, or other complementary
resilient mechanism keeping the floating lock under retraction tension when moved from its initial position. The filter
key and floating lock combination allows for the identification of specific filter models and may be configured to reject
all but specific filter types.
Removal of the filter cartridge is performed in the same
manner. An axial insertion force causes the floating lock to
move radially, which allows the filter key to be removed from
the floating lock. An extraction force provided by spring
tension, or the like, helps push the filter cartridge out of its
base. Fluid shutoff and locking mechanisms are initiated by
the axial force on the filter cartridge at the commencement of
the filter changing procedure.
The present invention is described below in reference to its
application in connection with, and operation of, a water
treatment system. However, it should be apparent to those
having ordinary skill in the art that the invention may be
applicable to any device having a need for filtering liquid.
FIG. lA is a top exploded view of the preferred embodiment of the filter assembly of the present invention. The filter
assembly is fixably secured in a position within an operating
environment requiring fluid filtration, such as attached to an
internal sidewall of a refrigerator, although certainly other
operating environments may be envisioned, and the filter
assembly may be used in any number of environments where
the filter assembly has access to, and can be placed in fluid
communication with, influent and effluent fluid access ports.
For illustrative purposes only, application to the filtering of
water being piped into a refrigerator is discussed.
A filter housing assembly 200 comprises the removable,
detachable filter cartridge or sump of the filter assembly from
a filter base 100. Filter housing assembly 200 includes a filter
housing 1, which encloses filter media 8, a filter head 2 that
attaches at one end to filter housing 1, and attaches at the other
end to a filter manifold 3 and non-floating port 11. A filter key
5 is attached to filter manifold 3. Filter base 100 includes
non-floating port 11, floating lock 12, and rear plate 13. Filter
head 2 secures in a water-tight fit to filter housing 1. The
attachment scheme may be made by a water-tight screw fit,
bond, weld, or other water-tight fastening mechanism com-
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shaped segment extending above circular center portion 33 or

330. Protrusion 32 allows for precise alignment of filter key S,
while providing a robust connection. A dovetail shape, press
fit, or friction fit interconnection between protrusion 32 and
groove Sl of filter key S permits the user to remove and
replace filter key S. This allows for the designation of specific
filter keys, and correspondingly, specific filter cartridges. Protrusion 32 or 320 may be integrally formed with filter manifold 3 or 300, respectively, or may be separately fabricated
and attached by bond, weld, press fit, friction fit, or other
suitable means known in the art. Preferably, protrusion 32 or
320 has a dovetail shaped surface for mating with complementary groove Sl of filter key S.
In the embodiment depicted by FIGS. 4B and 4C, protrusion 32 may be on an extension support 34. FIG. 4B depicts a
top level view of filter manifold 3, showing extension support
34 extending longitudinally or radially outward from center
portion 33, along a radius. Extension support 34 supports
optional shroud 4 that covers and protects filter head 2.
Filter manifold 3 or 300 seats within, and attaches to, filter
head 2. FIG. SA depicts a side view of one embodiment of
filter head 2. Filter head 2 is shown with off-center port 21. In
this manner, port 21 of filter head 2 and port 31 of filter
manifold 3 are both off-center and parallel to one another
about a plane that approximately intersects the center point of
filter head 2. As shown in FIGS. 1, 4, and S, a recessed portion
22 formed about the center point of filter head 2 receives
center portion 33 of filter manifold 3. If extension support 34
is used with filter manifold 3, when filter manifold 3 is
inserted within filter head 2, extension support 34 is situated
approximately perpendicular to the plane formed by ports 21
and 31. Extension support 34 provides at each end a snap fit
design for shroud 4. FIG. SB is a bottom perspective view of
the filter head. FIG. SC is a top perspective view of filter head
2 depicting recess portion 22.
Filter head 210 depicts another embodiment as shown in
FIGS. SD-SF. In this embodiment, as depicted in the top
perspective view of FIG. SF, on the top surface of filter head
210 is a curved receiving boss or support member 23 0 located
on one side of the center point, and two parallel, lateral
support members 240a,b located opposite curved boss 230 on
the other side of the center point of filter head 210. These
structural support members are used to align filter key S to
filter head 210, and help secure filter key S. This filter head
may be used in conjunction with the filter manifold 300
without extension supports, as depicted in FIG. 4A. Structural
support member 230 provides a physical stop for filter key S,
which typically slides on protrusion 32 provided by filter
manifold 300. Lateral support members 240a,b are used to
align filter key S, and prevent it from inadvertent shifting.
FIG. SE is a bottom perspective view of filter head 210. FIG.
SD is a side view of filter head 210.
Filter manifold 300 includes an off-center port 310, as well
as a center portion 330 that fits securely within recess 220 of
filter head 210. Protrusion 320 receives the groove from filter
key S. In this embodiment, when filter key S is slidably
inserted within protrusion 320, structural support member
230 and lateral structural support members 240a,b secure
filter key S. The curved portion of structural support member
230 forces filter key S to be inserted in one direction only. An
added boss 232, located on the top of filter head 210 and
centered between lateral support members 240a,b may be
employed to serve as a lock or snap fit for filter key S. Additionally, in another embodiment, structural support member
230 may be formed with a small aperture 23S located directly
away from the center point of filter head 210 at its base where
support member 230 meets the top portion of filter head 210.
This small aperture 23S is designed to receive a protruding

material or locking nub or tabe S3 placed at, or formed with,
the corresponding end portion of filter key S on the lower end
of a lateral side. Locking nub or tab S3 on filter key S is
inserted within small aperture 23S on the curved portion of
structural support member 230 and prevents axial removal of
filter key S away from filter head 210. FIGS. 2A-2F show
locking nub S3 located on the bottom portion of a lateral side
of filter key S. FIG. SD is a side view of filter head 210
depicting aperture 23S for receiving filter key S.
Filter key S includes at least one laterally extending finger
S2, and preferably a plurality of extending fingers, as depicted
in FIGS. 2A-2F. FIG. 2C is a bottom perspective view of filter
key S. In a first illustrative embodiment, filter key Sis shown
with ten laterally extending fingers S2. Fingers S2 are preferably constructed of the same material as, and integrally
formed with, base SS of filter key S. However, the fingers may
also be removably attached, and the filter key design is not
limited to an integrally formed construction. The laterally
extending fingers S2 may form a number of different configurations. In the illustrative embodiment, there is a uniform gap
S4 between each finger S2. In other configurations, a finger
may be missing on one or both sides of filter key S, and gap S4
may be wider in some places than in others. Using a digital 1,
0 designation to indicate a finger (1) or a gap (0), it is possible
to have many different configuration for a filter key. The
configuration as shown in FIG. 2E would be designated on
each side as 101010101. As a separate example, for a designation of100010101, this would represent a lateral finger (1)
followed by a wide gap (000), and then a finger (1) followed
by a gap (0) and a finger (1) followed by another gap (0), and
one last finger (1 ). The present invention is not limited to any
particular finger/gap order. Additionally, it is not necessary
for the finger/ gap configuration on one side of filter key S to be
symmetric with the finger/gap configuration on the opposite
side. By having different finger/gap configurations, it is possible to make a mechanical key identifier for the specific filter
housing assembly being employed. Filter key S may also be
color-coded to facilitate identification for different filter cartridges or housing assemblies. It may also be textured, mirrored, transparent, translucent, materially modified, or having
a conductively signature, or any combination thereof, for
identification purposes. More importantly, aside from identification of the filter housing assembly, a particular filter key
finger/gap configuration will only allow for the use of a specific filter housing assembly in a given system.
Fingers S2 of filter key S are strength bearing members,
used to mate with, or interlock with, corresponding drive keys
l23a,b located on longitudinal sides of floating lock 12 as
depicted in FIG. 3. There must be at least one drive key on
floating lock 12 that corresponds to, and lines up with, at least
one finger on filter key S, so that when filter key S is inserted
to mate with floating lock 12, the drive keys slidably contact
the fingers and floating lock 12 is shifted longitudinally an
incremental amount to allow fingers S2 on filter key S to
traverse between the gaps 122 on floating lock 12. Once
fingers S2 have passed between the corresponding gaps on
floating lock 12, which is slidably restrained under tensional
forces, floating lock 12 is partially returned towards its original position by the tensional retraction forces so that at least
one finger on filter key S aligns or interlocks with at least one
drive key on floating lock 12, and the alignment resists any
direct outward, axial extraction forces.
Each finger S2 of filter key S includes a slanted face SS as
depicted in FIGS. 2A and 2F. These angled features are made
to slidably contact complementary slanted edge or angled
features l2la,b of drive keys 123a,b of floating lock 12
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shown in FIGS. 3A and 3E. During insertion of filter key 5,

the sliding contact of the angled feature of the filter key's
fingers transversely shifts floating lock 12 off of its initial
position, and allows the fingers of filter key 5 to be inserted
within gaps 122 between the drive keys 123a,b.
A perspective view of floating lock 12 is depicted in FIGS.
3A and 3B. Floating lock 12 has angled-faced fingers, protrusions, or drive keys 123a,b and gaps 122 that may reciprocally correspond to fingers 52 and gaps 54 located on filter
key 5. It is not necessary for the drive keyI gap configuration of
floating lock 12 to be exactly complementary to the finger/gap
configuration of filter key 5. It is only necessary that floating
lock 12 is able to fully receive the inserting filter key 5 when
filter housing assembly 200 is axially inserted into filter base
100. Each drive key 123a,b offloating lock 12 is shaped with
a receiving wedge 129a, b, respectively, opposite slanted edge
l2la,b to capture fingers 52 of filter key 5. Fingers 52 may
have a cross-sectional diamond shape to facilitate the capture
by the drive key receiving wedge l29a,b. Drive keys 123a,b
are placed on at least one longitudinal side of floating lock 12,
as depicted in FIGS. 3D and 3E. Underneath and centered
between drive keys 123a,b is a row of position stops 125.
Position stops 125 preclude fingers 52 from extending any
further during insertion. There need not be a position stop 125
for each drive key 123a,b, provided there is at least one
position stop 125 to prohibit over insertion of filter key 5.
Position stops 125 also include a slanted or angled face 126
for slidable contact with slanted face 58 of fingers 52 on filter
key 5. Position stops 125 are shown as a row of jagged edges,
but do not have to correspond one-for-one with drive keys
l23a,b.
Upon insertion, when fingers 52 of filter key 5 contact drive
keys 123a,b, floating lock 12 shifts away from its initial
position, against retraction forces, and moves according to the
contacting angled edges 58 and 121. Once wings 56a,b of
fingers 52 clear lip l27a,b of drive keys 123a,b, floating lock
12 is not prohibited from reacting to the retraction forces, and
moves slightly back, towards its original position where diamond shaped wings 56a,b are then trapped by receiving
wedges l29a,b. This position locks filter key 5 to floating lock
12 resisting any a direct axial extraction force.
There is a gap or space 124 between the bottom most
portion of drive key 123a,b and top most portion of position
stop 125. Upon extraction, when wings 56a,b of fingers 52 are
pushed within this gap or space, there is no structure preventing floating lock 12 from responding to the tensional retraction forces acting on it. Thus, floating lock 12 is free to
respond to the retraction forces, and will tend to move
towards its initial position. This will align fingers 52 of filter
key 5 within gaps 122 of floating lock 12 and allow for easy
extraction of filter housing 200.
In order to extract filter housing assembly 200, a user again
pushes axially inwards on the filter housing assembly, which
releases wings 56a,b on filter key 5 from drive keys 123a,b.
This frees floating lock 12 to return to towards its original
position, and locates fingers 52 on filter key 5 at gaps 122 of
floating lock 12. Filter housing assembly 200 can now be
freely extracted from filter base 100. Resilient members 1110
within shut-off stanchions llOla,b of non-floating port 11
assist in pushing or extracting filter housing assembly 200
away from filter base 100.
FIG. 9A is a perspective view of non-floating port 11,
which works in tandem with rear plate 13 or rear plate 1300 to
hold floating or sliding lock 12 in place while allowing it to
freely move longitudinally off its center position and back to
its center position during the insertion and extraction of filter
housing assembly 200. As discussed further herein, non-
floating port 11 will also hold floating lock 1200 and floating
lock 1212 of FIG. 8. For simplicity, reference is made chiefly
to the interaction of non-floating port 11 with floating lock 12,
although the applicability of non-floating port 11 includes
usage with floating lock 1200and1212 as well. Non-floating
port 11 includes a protruding encasement 1102, larger than
floating lock 12, and made to enclose floating lock 12 therein.
Encasement 1102 prevents over-travel of floating lock 12, and
protects it when installed from extraneous, unintended movement. FIG. 9B is a top plan view of non-floating port 11.
Stanchions llOla,b are located on opposite sides of encasement 1102. Ports 1103 represent the ingress and egress ports
for the fluid. Shut-off stanchions llOla,b include shutoff
plugs 14, which act as valve seals to stop fluid flow when the
filter cartridge is being removed. Shut-off stanchions llOla,b
are preferably cylindrical in shape, containing spring activated, a-ring sealed plugs for sealing the ingress and egress
lines during filter cartridge removal. In a preferred embodiment, rear plate 13 is snap fitted into non-floating port 11. In
order to accommodate this, snap fittings 1105 are shown on
non-floating port 11 that receive a corresponding fitting 135
on rear plate 13.
Referring to FIG. 1, floating lock 12 is supported by nonfloating port 11 and rear plate 13. FIG. lOA is a top plan view
of one embodiment of rear plate 13 of the present invention.
FIG. lOB depicts a bottom perspective view ofrear plate 13.
Rear plate 13 secures floating lock 12 within a support structure in non-floating port 11. Rear plate 13 is preferably
attached by snap fit to non-floating port 11, although other
attachment schemes known in the art may be easily
employed, such as bonding, welding, and assorted mechanical fasteners. Rear plate 13 is formed with extensions 132 on
each end, and shaped gaps 133 therebetween. Gaps 133 are
shaped to go around shut-off stanchions llOla,b of nonfloating port 11. In this embodiment, rear plate 13 includes a
center aperture 131 that allows for longitudinal movement of
floating lock 12. Floating lock 12 may include an extension
member opposite the face configured with fingers and gaps, in
order to permit resilient components, such as helical or torsion springs to act upon it. FIGS. 3C and 3E are side views of
the floating lock showing extension member 128. FIG. 3B is
a perspective view of the floating lock 12 with extension
member 128. FIG. SE depicts floating lock 1212 with extension member 1280. In these embodiments, the extension
member is acted upon by resilient devices held by the rear
plate.
FIG. lOC is a top plan view of another embodiment of the
rear plate 1300 of the present invention. In this embodiment,
the topside of rear plate 1300 includes a domed, slotted cover
1302 over the center aperture. Cover 1302 is formed to encase
springs or other resilient members about the extension member 128 extending from floating lock 12. Dome 1302 includes
a slot 1304 that is made to receive the extension member 128
from floating lock 12. Slot 1304 helps retain linear movement
offloating lock 12 inside dome 1302. In this embodiment, two
complementary resilient members, such as springs, would
reside on each side of the extension member 128 of floating
lock 12. One resilient member preferably applies force on the
floating lock extension member in one direction, while the
other resilient member applies force to the floating lock
extension member in the opposite direction. In this manner,
no matter which way floating lock 12 is moved or shifted, a
retraction force presents itself to return floating lock 12 to its
original, centered position.
At all times during insertion, the filter housing assembly is
under extraction forces that tend to push the housing out of the
filter base. These extraction forces result from resilient mem-
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bers in each shut-off stanchion llOla,b of non-floating port

11 (shown in FIG. 9B) that force shutoff plugs 14 into position in order to block the ingress and egress ports. Preferably,
the extraction forces on shutoff plugs 14 are provided by a
spring 1110 in each port, although other resilient members
may be used to provide a similar result. Inserting the filter
housing assembly into the filter base works against these
extraction forces, and pushes shutoff plugs 14 further up each
shut-off stanchion llOla,b of non-floating port 11. This
allows for fluid ingress, while keeping the filter housing
assembly under the constant extraction force.
Protective port shroud 4 may be placed over filter head 2, to
protect the floating lock 12 and filter key 5 mechanism from
damage and debris. Shroud 4 is preferably supported by the
extension supports on the filter manifold.
FIGS. 6A and 6B are exploded views of another embodiment of the filter assembly of the present invention, showing
the combination of filter manifold 300, filter key 500, and
filter head 210. Filter key 500 is depicted without a locking
nub or tab; however it may included a locking nub to facilitate
attachment to the filter head. FIG. 7F depicts filter key 590
with locking nub or tab 501. Locking nub 501 is located at the
base of filter key 590. In this embodiment, filter key 500 or
590 and filter manifold 300 are modified such that floating
lock 1200 or 1212 of FIG.Sis slidably shifted by the interaction wings 560a,b of an extended boss 550 on filter key 500
or 590 with drive keys 1210a,b of floating lock 1200.
Filter key 500 or 590 is inserted within floating lock 1200
through the axial insertion of the filter housing assembly into
the filter base. Hammerhead shaped wings 560a,b on fingers
520 of filter key 500 and drive keys l210a,b on floating lock
1200 or 1212 slidably contact one another, causing a transverse motion of floating lock 1200 or 1212 perpendicular to
the axial motion of insertion. In this manner, floating lock
1200 or 1212 is shifted longitudinally, in a direction radially
relative to the filter housing assembly axis. Fingers 520 of
filter key 500 are positioned within the gaps 1220 on floating
lock 1200 or 1212. Once filter key 500 or 590 is inserted,
floating lock 1200 or 1212 is returned partially towards its
original position by retracting tensional forces, preferably by
complementary spring forces, so that the fingers on floating
lock 1200 or 1212 align directly with fingers 520 on filter key
500 or 590, thus preventing a direct extraction force from
removing the filter housing assembly from the filter base.
FIG. 7F depicts a top perspective view of filter key 590. At
one end of filter key 590 is an upwardly extended angled boss
550. Boss 550 rises above horizontal plane 570 created by the
top portion of fingers 520, and is angled toward fingers 520,
with its highest point at one end of filter key 500. Boss 550
angles downward from its highest point towards fingers 520.
Preferably, boss 550 is an upwardly facing triangular or
wedge shaped design having wings 560a,b for interaction
with drive keys l210a,b, respectively, on floating lock 1200.
FIG. 7E depicts an end view of filter key 500 showing a
hammerhead shaped boss 550 rising above plane 570 created
by fingers 520, and wings 560a,b extending laterally from
boss 550 resembling what may be considered a hanimerhead
shape. The purpose of wings 560a, bis to contact corresponding angled drive keys l210a,b on floating key 1200.
A perspective view of the complementary floating lock
1200 is depicted in FIG. SA. The only difference between
floating lock 1200 of FIG. SA and floating lock 1212 of FIG.
SE is the addition of an extension member 12SO on floating
lock 1212. Floating lock 1200 has fingers 1230a,b and gaps
1220 that may reciprocally correspond to fingers 520 and
gaps 540 located on filter key 500 or 590. It is not necessary
for the finger/gap configuration of floating lock 1200 to be
exactly complementary to the finger/gap configuration of

filter key 500 or 590. It is only necessary that floating lock
1200 is able to fully receive the inserting filter key 500 when
the filter housing assembly is axially inserted into the filter
base. Furthermore, once floating lock 1200 is subjected to
retraction forces acting to return it partially towards its original position, it is necessary that at least one finger on filter key
500 or 590 vertically align with at least one finger on floating
lock 1200 or 1212 preventing any extraction without further
shifting of floating lock 1200or1212.
Using floating lock 1200 and filter key 500 as illustrative
examples, upon slidable contact of wings 560a, b on filter key
500 and drive keys 1210a,b on floating lock 1200, floating
lock 1200 moves in a transverse motion, perpendicular to the
axial motion ofinsertion. In this manner, floating lock 1200 is
shifted longitudinally, in a direction radially relative to the
filter housing assembly axis. Fingers 520 of filter key 500 are
positioned within the gaps 1220 on floating lock 1200. Once
filter key 500 is inserted, floating lock 1200 is returned partially towards its original position by retracting tensional
forces, preferably by complementary spring forces, so that
the fingers on floating lock 1200 align directly with fingers
520 on filter key 500, thus preventing a direct extraction force
from removing the filter housing assembly from the filter
base.
Fingers 1230a,b are preferably constructed of the same
material as floating lock 1200 and integrally formed therewith. However, fingers 1230 may also be removably attached,
and the floating lock design is not limited to an integrally
formed construction. Additionally, the present invention is
not limited to any particular finger/gap order. It is not necessary for the finger/gap configuration on one side of floating
lock 1200 to be symmetric with the finger/gap configuration
on the opposite side. Floating lock 1200 is responsive to
tensional forces, such as complementary springs acting on it
from two separate directions to provide resistance longitudinally. Floating lock 1200 effectively moves longitudinally
when acted upon by filter key 500, and is forced to return
partially towards its original position after fingers 520 of filter
key 500 have traversed through gaps 1220. Upon partial
retraction, fingers 520 are aligned behind or underneath fingers 1230 of floating lock 1200. FIG. SB is a top view of
floating lock 1200 showing laterally extending fingers
1230a,b and adjacent gaps 1220 between the fingers.
FIG. SC is a cross-sectional view of floating lock 1200,
depicting drive key 1210a, which is located at one end of
floating lock 1200 on longitudinal or side panel 1240. Drive
key 1210a is opposite a similar drive key 1210b (not shown),
which is located on the opposite longitudinal panel of floating
lock 1200. Both drive keys are designed to have an angled
face for slidably interacting with wings 560a, b of boss 550 on
filter key 500. Each drive key is preferably integrally fabricated with floating lock 1200; however, the drive keys may be
fabricated separately and attached to the longitudinal panels
of floating lock 1200 by attachment means known in the art.
As shown in FIG. SC, below drive key 1210a is a position key
or physical stop 1250, preferably formed with the supporting
lateral wall 1260 of floating lock 1200. As shown in FIG. SB,
position key 1250 is situated between drive keys l210a,b.
Position key 1250 may be integrally formed with lateral wall
1260, or may be separately attached thereto by any acceptable
means in the prior art, such as bonding, welding, gluing, press
fitting, and the like. Position key 1250 acts as a physical stop
to ensure against over travel of floating lock 1200. Position
key 1250 is situated below drive keys 1210a,b by a distance
designed to accommodate the insertion of boss 550 of filter
key 500. Upon insertion of filter key 500 into floating lock
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1200, boss 550 traverses through gap 1270 in floating lock

preferably in close proximity to the use of the filtered water
produced by the filter housing apparatus.
1200 formed by the space between drive keys 1210a,b. Wings
While the present invention has been particularly
560a,b of boss 550 extend outward relative to the width of
described, in conjunction with a specific preferred embodiboss 550, traversing between lateral wall 1260 and drive keys
l210a,b. In this manner, wings 560a,b retain floating lock 5 ment, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and
variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of
1200 from retracting back to its original position while boss
the foregoing description. It is therefore contemplated that the
550 is being inserted. At all times, floating lock 1200 is under
appended claims will embrace any such alternatives, modifithe retraction force of resilient members, such as tandem
cations and variations as falling within the true scope and
springs, or the like, tending to keep floating lock 1200 its
10 spirit of the present invention.
original position, which is preferably a centered position.
During insertion of filter key 500, wings 560a,b interact with
The invention claimed is:
drive keys 1210a,b to shift floating lock 1200 longitudinally
off-center while under the resilient retraction forces. Upon
a filter housing for enclosing a filter media, said filter
full insertion, when boss 550 reaches and contacts position 15
housing having a body and a top portion for forming a
key 1250, wings 560a,b are no longer held by drive keys
fluid-tight seal with said body, said filter housing top
l210a,b because the length of drive keys 1210a,b is shorter
portion including:
than the length of boss 550. At this point in the insertion
an ingress port;
process, the tensional retraction forces shift floating lock
an egress port;
1200 towards its original position.
a filter key located on said top portion and having a top
20
Once wings 560a,b reach position key 1250, and the user
surface, longitudinal sides, and lateral sides, each of said
filter key longitudinal sides including a plurality of
releases the insertion force initially applied on the filter housing assembly, the extraction forces from shutoff plug springs
spaced protrusions or fingers extending laterally from
said top surface, wherein said fingers include winged
1110 dominate. These forces push the filter housing assembly
extensions having slanted or angled faces for mating
axially outwards, away from floating lock 1200. Since wings 25
attachment to a filter base or manifold.
560a,b are no longer bound between drive keys 1210a,b and
lateral wall 1260, floating lock 1200 will tend to shift longi2. The filter housing assembly of claim 1 wherein said
tudinally, partially towards its original position as filter key
fingers include a diamond shaped cross-section.
500 moves slightly axially outwards. At this point, wings
3. The filter housing assembly of claim 1 including having
560a,b interact with edge angles l280a,b to push away from 30 said filter key attached to said filter housing top portion by
snap fit, friction fit, welding, or bonding.
the center position, shifting filter key 500, and combining or
contacting with face l300a,b to keep the filter housing from
4. The filter housing assembly of claim 1 including a filter
retracting. FIG. SD depicts an exploded view of drive key
manifold or base attached to said filter housing top portion,
said filter manifold or base comprising an attachment struc1210a with edge angle 1290a and face 1300a.
Fingers 520 of filter key 500 are now aligned with fingers 35 ture for fixably receiving said spaced protrusions or fingers on
said longitudinal sides of said filter key.
1230 of floating lock 1200 and remain in contact in a vertical
plane in the axial direction, prohibiting extraction of the filter
5. The filter housing assembly of claim 4 wherein one of
said ingress or egress ports is located on said filter manifold.
It is envisioned that the preferred embodiment of the
6. The filter housing assembly of claim 1 wherein said
present invention would be disposed in a refrigerator, most 40 ingress port and said egress port are off axial center of said
likely within the door. The output of the filter assembly may
filter housing.
be selectively coupled to a water dispenser or an ice dispenser.
The water source to the refrigerator would be in fluid comspaced protrusions or fingers are integrally formed with said
munication with filter base 100, and prohibited from flowing
filter key.
when filter housing assembly 200 is removed from filter base 45
said spaced protrusions or fingers forming a predetermined
100. Shutoff plugs 14 in stanchions llOla,b seal fluid flow
until filter housing assembly 200 is inserted in filter base 100.
pattern for identifying different filter attributes unique to a
filter encased within said filter housing.
Upon insertion, fluid would flow to the filter housing assembly and filter water would be returned from the filter housing
assembly.
50 said filter key color-coded, transparent, translucent, mirrored,
All parts of the filter housing assembly 200 and filter base
textured, materially modified, or having a conductively signature for identifying different filter attributes specific to a
100 may be made using molded plastic parts according to
processes known in the art. The filter media may be made
from known filter materials such as carbon, activated carbons,
malodorous carbon, porous ceramics and the like. The filter 55
media, which may be employed in the filter housing of the
instant invention, includes a wide variety of filter media
portion including:
capable of removing one or more harmful contaminants from
an ingress port;
water entering the filter housing apparatus. Representative of
an egress port;
the filter media employable in the filter housing include those 60
a filter manifold attached to said filter housing top portion,
found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,872,311, 6,835,311, 6,797,167,
said filter manifold comprising an attachment structure
6,630,016, 6,331,037, and 5,147,722. In addition, the filter
for receiving a filter key, said filter key located on said
composition disclosed in the following Published Applications may be employed as the filter media: US 2005/0051487
top portion and having a top surface, longitudinal sides,
and lateral sides, each of said filter key longitudinal sides
and US 2005/00111827.
65
including a plurality of spaced protrusions, drive keys,
The filter assembly is preferably mounted on a surface in
proximity to a source of water. The mounting means are also
or fingers extending laterally from said top surface, and

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having winged extensions with slanted or angled faces,

wherein said winged extensions have a diamond shaped
cross-section.
a filter housing for enclosing a filter media;
a filter head having at least one port in fluid communication
with said filter media, said filter head forming a fluidtight seal with said filter housing;
a filter manifold comprising:
a base portion axially centered about said filter head;
a port in fluid communication with said filter media; and
a first attachment structure located on said base portion
for receiving a filter key;
wherein said filter manifold is formed integrally with
said filter head, and
said filter key having a top surface, a bottom, longitudinal sides, and lateral sides, said filter key including:
two opposing longitudinal sides having a plurality of
spaced protrusions or fingers on each longitudinal
side extending laterally from said top surface and
having winged extensions; and
a second attachment structure located on said filter
key bottom for attaching said filter key to said first
attachment structure on said filter manifold.
filter key is fixably or removably attached to said filter manifold.
filter key fingers include slanted or angled faces on said
winged extensions.
winged extensions have a diamond shaped cross-section.
15. A method for extracting a filter housing assembly from
a filter base comprising:
applying an axial insertion force to said filter housing
assembly already connected to said filter base towards
said filter base thereby inserting a filter key on said filter
housing assembly further into a slidable floating lock of
said filter base, said filter key having longitudinal sides
with a plurality of fingers or spaced protrusions on each
of said longitudinal sides;
releasing said slidable floating lock, such that said floating
lock moves relative to said filter key under a resilient
retraction force;
aligning said plurality of fingers on each longitudinal side

of said filter key between fingers or drive keys on said
floating lock; and
applying an axial extraction force to said filter housing
assembly to remove said filter housing assembly from
said filter base.
16. A refrigerator in combination with a filter assembly
comprising:
an outer cabinet;
a refrigeration compartment disposed within said outer
cabinet and having a rear wall, a pair of opposing side
walls, at least one door disposed opposite said rear wall,
a top and a bottom;
a freezer compartment disposed in said outer cabinet and
adjacent to said refrigeration compartment;
a water dispenser disposed in said door and in fluid communication with said filter assembly with automated
assembly for changing a sump and filter media from said
refrigerator;
said filter assembly comprising:
portion including:
an ingress port;
an egress port; and
a filter key located attached to said filter housing and having a top surface, longitudinal sides, and lateral sides,
each of said filter key longitudinal sides including a
plurality of spaced protrusions or fingers extending laterally from said top surface.
17. The combination according to claim 16 including having said filter key formed integrally with said filter housing
top portion.
18. The filter housing assembly of claim 16 including having said filter key removably attached to said top portion.
19. The filter housing assembly of claim 16 including a
filter manifold attached to said filter housing top portion, said
filter manifold comprising an attachment structure for fixably
receiving said filter key.
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* * * * *
EXHIBIT G

US 8,137,551 Bl
PUSH FILTER WITH FLOATING KEY LOCK
5,147,722, and are incorporated herein by reference thereto.

One of the uses of the instant filter apparatus is as a water
filtration apparatus for a refrigerator. Refrigerators are appliances with an outer cabinet, a refrigeration compartment disposed within the outer cabinet and having a rear wall, a pair of
opposing side walls, at least one door disposed opposite the
rear wall, a top and a bottom and a freezer compartment
disposed in the outer cabinet and adjacent to the refrigeration
compartment. It is common for refrigerators to have a water
dispenser disposed in the door and in fluid communication
with a source of water and a filter for filtering the water.
Further, it is common for refrigerators to have an ice dispenser
in the door and be in fluid communication with a source of
water and a filter for filtering the water. It has been found that
the filter assembly of the instant invention is useful as a filter
for a refrigerator having a water dispenser and/or an ice
dispenser.
This invention relates to a filtering apparatus, specifically a

filter housing apparatus to facilitate easy removal and
replacement of a filter housing from a mechanical support,
and more specifically, to a push filter design that activates a
floating key lock, where the key may be used simultaneously
as a lock and as an identifier for particular filter attributes. The
mechanical support may be situated inline, and in fluid communication, with influent and effluent piping, such as within
a refrigerator. More specifically, the invention relates to a
filter housing and mount, whereby the filter housing may be
attached to, and removed from, the mount by a push-actuated
release. A controlled attachment or detachment of the filter
sump, containing the filter media, is activated by the axial
push of the sump towards the mechanical support. The specific key lock design allows a user to identify and match
certain filter configurations received by the mechanical support, and reject other filter configurations. An internal shutoff,
activated by the push-actuated release, blocks spillage during
filter housing removal and replacement.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

20
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a water filtration system having a
locking and unlocking mechanism for changing the filter
when the filter media has served its useful life. The use of
liquid filtration devices is well known in the art as shown in
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,135,645, 5,914,037 and 6,632,355.Although
these patents show filters for water filtration, the filters are
difficult to replace owing to their design and placement. For
example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,135,645 discloses a filter cartridge
as a plug-in cartridge with a series of switches to prevent the
flow of water when the filter cartridge is removed for replacement. The filter must be manually inserted and removed and
have a switch activated to activate valve mechanisms so as to
prevent the flow of water when the filter is removed. The
coverofthe filter is placed in the sidewall ofa refrigerator and
is employed to activate the switches that activate the valves.
The filter access is coplanar with the refrigerator wall and
forces an awkward access to the filter cartridge.
In U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/511,599 filed on
Aug. 28, 2006, for Huda, entitled "FILTER HOUSING
APPARATUS WITH ROTATING FILTER REPLACEMENT MECHANISM," a filter assembly having a rotator
actuating mechanism including a first internal rotator and a
second internal rotator is taught as an efficient way to insert,
lock, and remove the filter housing from its base. A simple
push mechanism actuates the self-driving release and change
over means that hold and release the filter housing sump, and
provide influent shutoff to prevent leaking and spillage. Rotational shutoff and locking mechanisms are activated and
released by axial force on the filter housing at the commencement of the filter changing procedure.
The instant invention is particularly useful as the water
filtering system for a refrigerator having water dispensing
means and, optionally, an ice dispensing means. The water
used in the refrigerator or water and ice may contain contaminants from municipal water sources or from underground
well or aquifers. Accordingly, it is advantageous to provide a
water filtration system to remove rust, sand, silt, dirt, sediment, heavy metals, microbiological contaminants, such as
Giardia cysts, chlorine, pesticides, mercury, benzene, toluene, MTBE, Cadmium bacteria, viruses, and other know contaminants. Particularly useful water filter media for microbiological contaminants include those found in U.S. Pat. Nos.
6,872,311, 6,835,311, 6,797,167, 6,630,016, 6,331,037, and
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The present invention is directed to, in a first aspect, a filter

filter key located on the top portion and having a top surface,
longitudinal sides, and lateral sides, the filter key including
spaced protrusions or fingers on the longitudinal sides of the
filter key extending laterally from the top surface. The fingers
include winged extensions having slanted or angled faces,
and may include a diamond shaped cross-section.
The filter key may include a boss extending in an axial
direction above the top surface of the filter key, the boss
having an angled face of predetermined width ramping
upwards from the filter key top surface and lateral segments or
wings extending beyond the boss width. The filter housing
assembly may include a filter manifold attached to the filter
housing top portion, the filter manifold comprising an attachment structure for fixably receiving the filter key. One of the
ingress or egress ports may be located on the filter manifold.
The spaced protrusions or fingers on the filter key may form
a predetermined pattern for identifying different filter
attributes unique to a filter encased within the filter housing.
The filter key may also be color-coded, transparent, translucent, mirrored, textured, materially modified, or having a
conductive signature for identifying different filter attributes
specific to a filter encased within the filter housing. The filter
key may include a locking nub or tab for attachment to the top
portion. The top portion may include a filter key location boss
or support member extending axially upwards from the top
portion at a distance away from an axial center point, and filter
key lateral support members located opposite the filter key
location boss on the other side of the axial center point and
extending axially upwards from the top portion, the filter key
lateral support members having a separation approximately
equal to the filter key width, the filter key location boss and the
filter key lateral support members forming a structural support with exposed surfaces for attaching the filter key to the
top portion.
In a second aspect, the present invention is directed to a
filter housing assembly comprising: a filter housing for
enclosing a filter media, the filter housing having a body and
a top portion for forming a fluid-tight seal with the body, the
filter housing top portion including: an ingress port; an egress
port; a filter manifold attached to the filter housing top portion, the filter manifold comprising an attachment structure
for receiving the filter key; the filter key located on the top

US 8,137,551 Bl
portion and having a top surface, longitudinal sides, and

lateral sides, the filter key including spaced protrusions, drive
keys, or fingers on the longitudinal sides of the filter key
extending laterally from the top surface, and having winged
extensions with slanted or angled faces, wherein the winged
extensions have a diamond shaped cross-section.
In a third aspect, the present invention is directed to a filter
filter media; a filter head having at least one port in fluid
communication with the filter media, the filter head forming
a fluid-tight seal with the filter housing; a filter manifold
comprising: a base portion axially centered about the filter
head; a port in fluid communication with the filter media; and
a first attachment structure located on the base portion for
receiving a filter key; and the filter key having a top surface, a
bottom, longitudinal sides, and lateral sides, the filter key
sides of the filter key extending laterally from the top surface
and having winged extensions; and a second attachment
structure located on the filter key bottom for attaching the
filter key to the first attachment structure on the filter manifold. The filter key fingers may include slanted or angled faces
on the winged extensions. The winged extensions may have a
diamond shaped cross-section.
The filter head may include a filter key location boss or
support member extending axially upwards from the filter
head top surface at a distance away from the filter head axial
center point, and filter key lateral support members located
opposite the filter key location boss on the other side of the
axial center point and extending axially upwards from the
filter head top surface, the filter key lateral support members
having a separation approximately equal to the filter key
width, the filter key location boss and the filter key lateral
support members forming a structural support with exposed
surfaces for attaching the filter key to the filter head. The filter
key location boss may include an aperture for receiving a
locking nub or tab from the filter key. The filter key second
attachment structure may comprise a complementary groove
or slot on the filter key bottom to attach with the axially
extending protrusion of the filter manifold. The filter manifold may also include radially extending arms about the base
portion, providing structural support for a shroud. The filter
key may include a boss extending in an axial direction above
the top surface of the filter key, the boss having an angled face
of predetermined width ramping upwards from the filter key
top surface and lateral segments or wings extending beyond
the boss width.
In a fourth aspect, the present invention is directed to a filter
base for releasably connecting to a complementary mating
filter housing assembly comprising: a base platform having
fluid ingress and egress ports; and a floating lock in sliding
communication with the base platform, having a bottom surface, a top surface, and longitudinal and lateral sides, the
floating lock including: spaced protrusions, drive keys, or
fingers on the longitudinal sides extending laterally inwards,
including at least one shaped protrusion, finger, or drive key
for slidably contacting the complementary mating filter housing assembly, the at least one shaped protrusion, finger, or
drive key including an angled face exposed towards the bottom surface, and an edge or wedge opposite the angled face
for releasably securing the complementary mating filter housing assembly.
The floating lock includes a position stop centered about
the lateral sides, and located above the at least one drive key
to provide a physical stop during insertion of the complementary mating filter key. The position key includes a track structure longitudinally across the floating lock. The filter base
includes an enclosure for receiving the floating lock, the

enclosure allowing the floating lock to slidably move therein.
A rear plate may be attached to the base platform for at least
partially housing the floating lock. At least one resilient member may be in contact with the floating lock to provide a
retraction force when the floating lock is acted upon by the
filter housing assembly during insertion or extraction of the
In a fifth aspect, the present invention is directed to a filter
housing assembly comprising: a base platform having a top
surface; a port for fluid ingress; a port for fluid egress; an
upper ingress stanchion in fluid communication with the
ingress port, the upper ingress stanchion extending upwards
from the base platform top surface, the upper ingress stanchion including a first shutoff plug and a resilient member to
apply axial or vertical force to the first shutoff plug to block
fluid flow from the ingress port during extraction of the filter
housing assembly; an upper egress stanchion in fluid communication with the egress port, the upper egress stanchion
extending upwards from the base platform top surface, the
upper egress stanchion including a second shutoff plug and a
resilient member to apply axial or vertical force to the second
shutoff plug to block fluid flow from the egress port during
extraction of the filter housing assembly; a lower ingress
stanchion in fluid communication with the upper ingress stanchion and the ingress port, the lower ingress stanchion
extending axially downwards from the base platform for
receiving an ingress port from the filter housing assembly; a
lower egress stanchion in fluid communication with the upper
egress stanchion and the egress port, the lower egress stanchion extending axially downwards from the base platform
for receiving an egress port from the filter housing assembly;
an enclosure for at least partially receiving a floating lock, the
enclosure allowing the floating lock to slidably move therein;
the floating lock having longitudinal sides and lateral sides,
including: spaced fingers, drive keys, or protrusions located
on at least one of the longitudinal sides for releasably mating
with fingers of a complementary mating filter key, at least one
of the fingers, drive keys, or protrusions located on an inside
face of the floating lock longitudinal side, and having an
angled surface for slidably contacting fingers on the complementary mating filter housing assembly, such that when the
fingers of the complementary mating filter housing assembly
are inserted within the floating lock, the angled surface slidably contacts the filter housing assembly finger, shifting the
floating lock in a longitudinal direction, the at least one of the
fingers, drive keys, or protrusions including a wedge portion
on one end for releasably securing the filter housing assembly
fingers; a position key centered about the floating block,
above and adjacent the at least one drive key for providing a
physical stop for the filter housing assembly fingers during
insertion or extraction of the filter housing assembly; a rear
plate attached to the base platform for housing the floating
lock; and at least one resilient member attached to the floating
lock to provide a retraction force when the floating lock is
slidably acted upon by the filter housing assembly during
insertion or extraction.
In a sixth aspect, the present invention is directed to a filter
housing assembly comprising: a non-floating port including:
a fluid ingress port; a fluid egress port; an ingress stanchion in
fluid communication with the ingress port; an egress stanchion in fluid communication with the egress port; and a
formed recess for receiving a floating lock, the recess at least
partially enclosing the floating lock and having a width and
length that allows the floating lock to shift longitudinally
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US 8,137,551 Bl
5
therein; the floating lock having a bottom surface, a top surface, and longitudinal and lateral sides, and seated within the
non-floating port formed recess, the floating lock including:
at least one drive key on the longitudinal side extending
laterally inwards at the bottom surface for slidably receiving
an angled boss or winged extension from a complementary
mating filter housing assembly, the at least one drive key
including an angled portion exposed towards the bottom surface, and an edge or wedge on each of the drive key bottom for
releasably contacting with a portion of the complementary
mating filter housing assembly boss or winged extension; a
position key centered about lateral sides of the floating lock,
and located above the at least one drive key to provide a
physical stop during insertion of the complementary mating
filter housing assembly; at least one resilient member in contact with the floating lock for applying a longitudinal retraction force in a direction that tends to push or pull the floating
lock back to an original position; a rear plate for slidably
securing the floating lock within the non-floating port; shutoff
plugs in each of the stanchions forterminating fluid flow from
the ingress and egress ports when the complementary mating
filter housing assembly is removed from the filter base; a
resilient member within each of the stanchions for applying
an axial extraction force to the complementary mating filter
housing assembly, and simultaneously move the shutoff
plugs into position to cease fluid flow when the complementary mating filter housing assembly is extracted.
In a seventh aspect, the present invention is directed to a
combination comprising: a filter base having an ingress port
and an egress port on a base platform; a slidable floating lock
in slidable contact of the filter base, the floating lock having a
plurality of drive keys or lateral extensions separated by gaps;
a resilient member in contact with the floating lock, providing
a retraction force for the floating lock; and a filter housing
assembly including: a filter key having a plurality of lateral
extensions separated by gaps, such that when the filter housing assembly is inserted into the filter base, the fingers of the
filter key slidably contact the lateral extensions of the floating
lock to shift the floating lock relative to the base platform,
allowing the fingers on the filter key to traverse between the
lateral extensions on the floating lock, and upon retraction of
the floating lock by the resilient member, the fingers on the
filter key align with the lateral extensions on the floating lock
to prevent extraction of the filter housing assembly.
The floating lock includes a bottom surface, a top surface,
and longitudinal and lateral sides, and wherein the lateral
extensions include drive keys on the longitudinal sides
extending laterally inwards at the bottom surface for slidably
receiving the filter key, each of the drive keys including an
angled portion exposed towards the bottom surface, and an
edge or wedge on each of the drive key bottom for releasably
contacting with a portion of the filter key; and a position key
centered about the floating lock, and located above the drive
keys to provide a physical stop during insertion of the filter
housing assembly.
The combination may also include a rear plate for securing
the floating lock within the filter base; shutoff plugs in each of
the stanchions for terminating fluid flow from the ingress and
egress ports when the filter housing assembly is extracted
from the filter base; and a resilient member within each of the
stanchions for applying an axial extraction force to the filter
housing assembly, and simultaneously moving the shutoff
plugs into position to cease fluid flow when the filter housing
In an eight aspect, the present invention is directed to a
combination comprising: a base platform having fluid ingress

and egress ports; an ingress stanchion in fluid communication
with the ingress port; an egress stanchion in fluid communication with the egress port; a floating lock in sliding communication with the base platform, having a bottom surface, a
top surface, and longitudinal and lateral sides, the floating
lock including: spaced protrusions or fingers on the longitudinal sides extending laterally inwards; at least one drive key
for slidably contacting a boss of a filter key of the filter
housing assembly, the at least one drive key including an
angled face exposed towards the filter housing assembly, and
an edge or lip adjacent the angled face for releasably securing
the boss of the filter key upon insertion of the filter housing
assembly; at least one resilient member in contact with the
floating lock for applying a longitudinal retraction force in a
direction that tends to push or pull the floating lock back to an
original position; a filter housing for enclosing a filter media,
the filter housing having a body and a top portion for forming
a fluid-tight seal with the body, the filter housing top portion
including: a filter housing ingress port; a filter housing egress
port; and a filter key located on the top portion and having a
sides of the filter key extending laterally from the top surface;
and a boss extending in an axial direction above the top
surface of the filter key, the boss having an angled face of
predetermined width ramping upwards from the filter key top
surface and laterally extending segments or wings extending
beyond the boss width; such that, when the filter housing
assembly is attached to the filter base, the angled face of the
boss of the filter key slidably contacts the angled face of the at
least one drive key of the floating lock to shift the floating lock
relative to the base platform, allowing the fingers on the filter
key to traverse between the fingers on the floating lock, and
upon retraction of the floating lock by the at least one resilient
member, the fingers on the filter key align with the fingers on
the floating lock to prevent extraction of the filter housing
assembly.
In a ninth aspect, the present invention is directed to a
method for attaching a filter housing assembly to a filter base
comprising: inserting ingress and egress ports of the filter
housing assembly into ingress and egress stanchions of the
filter base; inserting a filter key of the filter housing assembly
having lateral fingers with winged extensions into a slidable
floating lock having lateral fingers or drive keys by using the
filter key to shift the slidable floating lock longitudinally,
whereby the lateral fingers of the filter key transverse the
lateral fingers or drive keys of the floating lock; and releasing
the filter housing assembly so that resilient members in the
filter base apply an extraction force to the filter housing,
moving the filter housing assembly slightly in an axial extraction direction; and providing a retraction force to the floating
lock during the releasing to align the floating lock fingers or
drive keys with the filter key fingers, such that extraction of
the filter housing assembly is prohibited.
In a tenth aspect, the present invention is directed to a
method for extracting a filter housing assembly from a filter
base comprising: applying an axial insertion force to the filter
housing assembly already connected to the filter base towards
the filter base thereby inserting a filter key on the filter housing assembly further into a slidable floating lock of the filter
base; releasing the slidable floating lock, such that the floating
lock moves relative to the filter key under a resilient retraction
force; aligning fingers on the filter key between fingers or
drive keys on the floating lock; and applying an axial extraction force to the filter housing assembly to remove the filter
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US 8,137,551 Bl
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In an eleventh aspect, the present invention is directed to a

refrigerator in combination with a filter assembly comprising:
an outer cabinet; a refrigeration compartment disposed within
the outer cabinet and having a rear wall, a pair of opposing
side walls, at least one door disposed opposite the rear wall, a
top and a bottom; a freezer compartment disposed in the outer
cabinet and adjacent to the refrigeration compartment; a
water dispenser disposed in the door and in fluid communication with the filter assembly with automated assembly for
changing a sump and filter media from the refrigerator; the
filter assembly comprising: a filter housing for enclosing a
filter key located attached to the filter housing and having a
including spaced protrusions or fingers on the longitudinal
sides of the filter key extending laterally from the top surface.
apparatus mounted to a base and having an automatic locking
mechanism for simple replacement and removal.
apparatus and base attached by a push activated, slideably
moveable, floating lock.
It is another object of this invention to provide a filter
housing apparatus mounted on a surface having non-rotating
locking means with pressure activation for replacement and
removal.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a
filter housing apparatus that allows for a keyed identification
of the filter.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a filter
housing apparatus for use with water dispensing and\or ice
dispensing apparatus whereby filtered water is provided to the
water dispensing and/or ice dispensing apparatus.
FIG. 3C is a lateral side view of the floating lock of FIG.

3A.
FIG. 3D depicts a top view of the floating lock of FIG. 3A.
FIG. 3E depicts cross-sectional longitudinal side view of
the floating lock of FIG. 3A.
filter manifold.
FIG. 4B is a top plan view of a second embodiment of the
filter manifold with an extension support member.
FIG. 4C is a perspective view of a second embodiment of
the filter manifold.
FIG. SA is a side view ofone embodiment of the filter head
of the present invention.
FIG. SB is a bottom perspective view of the filter head of
FIG. SA.
FIG. SC is a top perspective view of the filter head of FIG.
SA.
FIG. SD is another embodiment of the filter head with a
snap fit lock for the filter key.
FIG. SE is a bottom perspective view of the filter head of
FIG. SD.
FIG. SF is a top perspective view of the filter head depicting
the aperture for receiving the filter key.
FIGS. 6A and 6B are exploded views of a second embodiment of the filter assembly of the present invention, showing
a filter key having an extended boss.
FIG. 7A is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the
filter key of the present invention having an extended boss.
FIG. 7B is a bottom perspective view of the filter key of
FIG. 7A.
FIG. 7C depicts a top plan view of the filter key of FIG. 7A.
FIG. 7D depicts a side plan view of the filter key of FIG.
7A.
FIG. 7E depicts an end or lateral side view of the embodiment of the filter key of FIG. 7A, showing the boss rising
above the plane created by the fingers, and two wings extending laterally outwards from the boss.
FIG. 7F is a perspective view of a another embodiment of
the filter key of the present invention showing a locking nub
located on the bottom portion on a lateral side.
FIG. SA depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of
the floating lock of the present invention.
FIG. SB is a top view of the floating lock of FIG. SA.
FIG. SC is a cross-sectional view of the floating lock of
FIG. SA depicting a drive key located at one end of the
floating lock on the longitudinal or side panel.
FIG. SD depicts an exploded view of the drive key of FIG.
SC showing the edge angle and face.
FIG. SE depicts a perspective view ofa floating lock having
FIG.SFisasideviewofthefloatinglockofFIG.SEhaving
FIG. SG is a lateral or cross-sectional view of the floating
lock of FIG. SE with an extension member.
FIG. 9A is a perspective view of a non-floating port of the
present invention.
FIG. 9B is a top plan view of the non-floating port of FIG.
9A.
FIG. lOA is a top plan view of one embodiment of the rear
plate of the present invention.
FIG. lOB is a bottom perspective view of the rear plate of
FIG. lOA.
FIG. lOC is a top plan view ofa second embodiment of the
rear plate of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is an exploded view of a filter assembly of the
present invention, showing a filter key having a boss, connected to a filter manifold having extension supports.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features of the invention believed to be novel and the
elements characteristic of the invention are set forth with
particularity in the appended claims. The figures are for illustration purposes only and are not drawn to scale. The invention itself, however, both as to organization and method of
operation, may best be understood by reference to the
description of the preferred embodiment( s), which follows,
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in
which:
FIG. lA is a top exploded view ofone embodiment of the
filter assembly of the present invention.
FIG. lB is a side plan view the embodiment of the filter
housing assembly of FIG. lA.
filter key of the present invention.
FIG. 2B is a lateral side view of the filter key of FIG. 2A.
FIG. 2C depicts a bottom plan view of the filter key of FIG.
2A showing a groove and a locking nub or tab for attachments.
FIG. 2D depicts a perspective view from the opposite side
of the filter key of FIG. 2C.
FIG. 2E depicts a bottom view of the filter key of FIG. 2A.
FIG. 2F is a longitudinal side view of the filter key of FIG.
2A.
FIG. 3A depicts a perspective view of one embodiment of
the floating lock or sliding lock of the present invention.
FIG. 3B is a perspective view from the opposite side of the
floating lock of FIG. 3A.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED

EMBODIMENT(S)
manly used in the art for sealing adjoining components, typically adjoining plastic components. As discussed in further
detail below, filter key 5 is connected to filter manifold 3.
Filter key 5 may be formed as one piece with filter manifold
3, or may be securely attached by other methods, such as
bonding, welding, press fit, friction fit, or the like. Filter key
5 may also be removably attached for replacement by an end
user. Filter manifold 3 is attached to filter head 2. Filter
manifold 2 may be removably attached as well for replacement by an end user. Filter media 8 is located in filter housing
1. Each end of filter media 8 is secured by a cap that facilitates
the direction of the fluid being treated by the filter. At one end,
filter media 8 is secured by a closed end cap 7, and at the other
end by open end cap 6. Filter media 8 may be any filter media
known in the art, and preferably, is a carbon block filter. It is
typically shaped in a similar fashion as filter housing 1, which
in the preferred embodiment is cylindrical. Open end cap 6 is
designed to interface and be in fluid communication with
filter head 2. Filter housing assembly 200 is a finished assembly including filter housing 1, which encompasses filter
media 8 by closed end cap 7 at one end, and open end cap 6 at
the other. Generally, a-ring seals, such as a-ring seal 9, are
used to prevent water leakage where different components are
expected to mate. Filter manifold 3 and filter key 5 are joined
with filter head 2, and secured to filter housing 1 to form the
assembled filter housing apparatus 200. These components
may be integral, permanently secured, or removably attached
to one another, and to filter head 2. FIG. lB is a side plan view
of the preferred embodiment of the filter assembly of the
present invention.
FIG. 2A is a perspective view of filter key 5. FIG. 2B is a
lateral side view of filter key 5. As previously noted, the
bottom of filter key 5 is attached to filter manifold 3 by any
number of fastening schemes, or may be integrally formed
with filter manifold 3. FIG. 2C depicts a groove 51 that is
preferably shaped to receive a complementary protrusion on
filter manifold 3, and is preferably shaped to receive a dovetail protrusion; however, other connecting, complementary
shapes are not excluded. The connection of filter key 5 with
filter manifold 3 may be bonded, sonic welded, press fitted,
friction fitted, or the like. As depicted in the illustrative
embodiment, groove 51 is shaped to accept a snap feature for
a press or snap fit located on filter manifold 3. In this manner
filter key 5 may be removably attached to filter manifold 3.
Similarly, filter manifold 3 may be designed to be removably
attached to filter head 2. Thus, the design has more flexibility
to introduce and accommodate different key configurations,
which can be used to designate specific filter types, and purposely reject other filter types.
FIG. 4A depicts a perspective view of the one embodiment
of filter manifold 300. Port 310 is shown off center of filter
manifold 300. FIG. 4A depicts the filter manifold without
extension support members. Preferably, port 310 is an outlet
port; however, the present invention is not limited to a specific
ingress and egress location, and may have these ports interchanged. When port 310 is used as an egress or outlet port,
filter manifold 300 takes fluid from filter media 8 through the
center port of open cap 6, and directs fluid flow radially
outwards from the axial center to port 310. In this embodiment, the ingress port is located on filter head 2. By locating
the ingress and egress ports off axis, filter housing assembly
200 has a more robust design, with enhanced structural integrity for mounting to the filter base, and for remaining fixably
in place during attachment. Referring to FIGS. 4A-4C, in a
preferred attachment scheme for filter key 5, a protrusion 32
or 320 is formed on or nearthe center line of filter manifold 3
or 300. Protrusion 32 or 320 is preferably a rectangular
In describing the preferred embodiment of the present

invention, reference will be made herein to FIGS. 1to11 of
the drawings in which like numerals refer to like features of
the invention. Features of the invention are not necessarily
shown to scale.
The present invention is directed to a filter housing assembly for filtration of liquids, including the interception of
chemical, particulate, and/or microbiological contaminants.
The use of the mechanical locking assembly of the filter
housing without the need for excess force and tight tolerances
essential in prior art filter housings makes for easy and frequent filter changes and optimal filter performance. The filter
housing assembly of the present invention provides simplified filter changes to minimize process downtime and without
recourse to tools. A simple push mechanism actuates the
self-driving release and change over means that hold and
release the filter housing sump or filter cartridge, and provides
influent shutoff means to prevent leaking and spillage. A
floating lock or sliding lock responsive to an axial insertion
force from the filter cartridge moves perpendicular or radially
to the axial motion of the sump, and allows a specific filter key
to insert within the floating lock. Once inserted, the floating
lock retracts towards its original position under a resilient
force, such as two springs in tandem, or other complementary
resilient mechanism keeping the floating lock under retraction tension when moved from its initial position. The filter
key and floating lock combination allows for the identification of specific filter models and may be configured to reject
all but specific filter types.
Removal of the filter cartridge is performed in the same
manner. An axial insertion force causes the floating lock to
move radially, which allows the filter key to be removed from
the floating lock. An extraction force provided by spring
tension, or the like, helps push the filter cartridge out of its
base. Fluid shutoff and locking mechanisms are initiated by
the axial force on the filter cartridge at the commencement of
the filter changing procedure.
The present invention is described below in reference to its
application in connection with, and operation of, a water
treatment system. However, it should be apparent to those
having ordinary skill in the art that the invention may be
applicable to any device having a need for filtering liquid.
FIG. lA is a top exploded view of the preferred embodiment of the filter assembly of the present invention. The filter
assembly is fixably secured in a position within an operating
environment requiring fluid filtration, such as attached to an
internal sidewall of a refrigerator, although certainly other
operating environments may be envisioned, and the filter
assembly may be used in any number of environments where
the filter assembly has access to, and can be placed in fluid
communication with, influent and effluent fluid access ports.
For illustrative purposes only, application to the filtering of
water being piped into a refrigerator is discussed.
A filter housing assembly 200 comprises the removable,
detachable filter cartridge or sump of the filter assembly from
a filter base 100. Filter housing assembly 200 includes a filter
housing 1, which encloses filter media 8, a filter head 2 that
attaches at one end to filter housing 1, and attaches at the other
end to a filter manifold 3 and non-floating port 11. A filter key
5 is attached to filter manifold 3. Filter base 100 includes
non-floating port 11, floating lock 12, and rear plate 13. Filter
head 2 secures in a water-tight fit to filter housing 1. The
attachment scheme may be made by a water-tight screw fit,
bond, weld, or other water-tight fastening mechanism com-
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shaped segment extending above circular center portion 33 or

330. Protrusion 32 allows for precise alignment of filter key S,
while providing a robust connection. A dovetail shape, press
fit, or friction fit interconnection between protrusion 32 and
groove Sl of filter key S permits the user to remove and
replace filter key S. This allows for the designation of specific
filter keys, and correspondingly, specific filter cartridges. Protrusion 32 or 320 may be integrally formed with filter manifold 3 or 300, respectively, or may be separately fabricated
and attached by bond, weld, press fit, friction fit, or other
suitable means known in the art. Preferably, protrusion 32 or
320 has a dovetail shaped surface for mating with complementary groove Sl of filter key S.
In the embodiment depicted by FIGS. 4B and 4C, protrusion 32 may be on an extension support 34. FIG. 4B depicts a
top level view of filter manifold 3, showing extension support
34 extending longitudinally or radially outward from center
portion 33, along a radius. Extension support 34 supports
optional shroud 4 that covers and protects filter head 2.
Filter manifold 3 or 300 seats within, and attaches to, filter
head 2. FIG. SA depicts a side view of one embodiment of
filter head 2. Filter head 2 is shown with off-center port 21. In
this manner, port 21 of filter head 2 and port 31 of filter
manifold 3 are both off-center and parallel to one another
about a plane that approximately intersects the center point of
filter head 2. As shown in FIGS. 1, 4, and S, a recessed portion
22 formed about the center point of filter head 2 receives
center portion 33 of filter manifold 3. If extension support 34
is used with filter manifold 3, when filter manifold 3 is
inserted within filter head 2, extension support 34 is situated
approximately perpendicular to the plane formed by ports 21
and 31. Extension support 34 provides at each end a snap fit
design for shroud 4. FIG. SB is a bottom perspective view of
the filter head. FIG. SC is a top perspective view of filter head
2 depicting recess portion 22.
Filter head 210 depicts another embodiment as shown in
FIGS. SD-SF. In this embodiment, as depicted in the top
perspective view of FIG. SF, on the top surface of filter head
210 is a curved receiving boss or support member 23 0 located
on one side of the center point, and two parallel, lateral
support members 240a,b located opposite curved boss 230 on
the other side of the center point of filter head 210. These
structural support members are used to align filter key S to
filter head 210, and help secure filter key S. This filter head
may be used in conjunction with the filter manifold 300
without extension supports, as depicted in FIG. 4A. Structural
support member 230 provides a physical stop for filter key S,
which typically slides on protrusion 32 provided by filter
manifold 300. Lateral support members 240a,b are used to
align filter key S, and prevent it from inadvertent shifting.
FIG. SE is a bottom perspective view of filter head 210. FIG.
SD is a side view of filter head 210.
Filter manifold 300 includes an off-center port 310, as well
as a center portion 330 that fits securely within recess 220 of
filter head 210. Protrusion 320 receives the groove from filter
key S. In this embodiment, when filter key S is slidably
inserted within protrusion 320, structural support member
230 and lateral structural support members 240a,b secure
filter key S. The curved portion of structural support member
230 forces filter key S to be inserted in one direction only. An
added boss 232, located on the top of filter head 210 and
centered between lateral support members 240a,b may be
employed to serve as a lock or snap fit for filter key S. Additionally, in another embodiment, structural support member
230 may be formed with a small aperture 23S located directly
away from the center point of filter head 210 at its base where
support member 230 meets the top portion of filter head 210.
This small aperture 23S is designed to receive a protruding

material or locking nub or tab S3 placed at, or formed with,
the corresponding end portion of filter key S on the lower end
of a lateral side. Locking nub or tab S3 on filter key S is
inserted within small aperture 23S on the curved portion of
structural support member 230 and prevents axial removal of
filter key S away from filter head 210. FIGS. 2A-2F show
locking nub S3 located on the bottom portion of a lateral side
of filter key S. FIG. SD is a side view of filter head 210
depicting aperture 23S for receiving filter key S.
Filter key S includes at least one laterally extending finger
S2, and preferably a plurality of extending fingers, as depicted
in FIGS. 2A-2F. FIG. 2C is a bottom perspective view of filter
key S. In a first illustrative embodiment, filter key Sis shown
with ten laterally extending fingers S2. Fingers S2 are preferably constructed of the same material as, and integrally
formed with, base SS of filter key S. However, the fingers may
also be removably attached, and the filter key design is not
limited to an integrally formed construction. The laterally
extending fingers S2 may form a number of different configurations. In the illustrative embodiment, there is a uniform gap
S4 between each finger S2. In other configurations, a finger
may be missing on one or both sides of filter key S, and gap S4
may be wider in some places than in others. Using a digital 1,
0 designation to indicate a finger (1) or a gap (0), it is possible
to have many different configuration for a filter key. The
configuration as shown in FIG. 2E would be designated on
each side as 101010101. As a separate example, for a designation of 100010101, this would represent a lateral finger (1)
followed by a wide gap (000), and then a finger (1) followed
by a gap (0) and a finger (1) followed by another gap (0), and
one last finger (1). The present invention is not limited to any
particular finger/gap order. Additionally, it is not necessary
for the finger/ gap configuration on one side of filter key S to be
symmetric with the finger/gap configuration on the opposite
side. By having different finger/gap configurations, it is possible to make a mechanical key identifier for the specific filter
housing assembly being employed. Filter key S may also be
color-coded to facilitate identification for different filter cartridges or housing assemblies. It may also be textured, mirrored, transparent, translucent, materially modified, or having
a conductively signature, or any combination thereof, for
identification purposes. More importantly, aside from identification of the filter housing assembly, a particular filter key
finger/gap configuration will only allow for the use of a specific filter housing assembly in a given system.
Fingers S2 of filter key S are strength bearing members,
used to mate with, or interlock with, corresponding drive keys
l23a,b located on longitudinal sides of floating lock 12 as
depicted in FIG. 3. There must be at least one drive key on
floating lock 12 that corresponds to, and lines up with, at least
one finger on filter key S, so that when filter key S is inserted
to mate with floating lock 12, the drive keys slidably contact
the fingers and floating lock 12 is shifted longitudinally an
incremental amount to allow fingers S2 on filter key S to
traverse between the gaps 122 on floating lock 12. Once
fingers S2 have passed between the corresponding gaps on
floating lock 12, which is slidably restrained under tensional
forces, floating lock 12 is partially returned towards its original position by the tensional retraction forces so that at least
one finger on filter key S aligns or interlocks with at least one
drive key on floating lock 12, and the alignment resists any
direct outward, axial extraction forces.
Each finger S2 of filter key S includes a slanted face SS as
depicted in FIGS. 2A and 2F. These angled features are made
to slidably contact complementary slanted edge or angled
features l2la,b of drive keys 123a,b of floating lock 12
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shown in FIGS. 3A and 3E. During insertion of filter key 5,

the sliding contact of the angled feature of the filter key's
fingers transversely shifts floating lock 12 off of its initial
position, and allows the fingers of filter key 5 to be inserted
within gaps 122 between the drive keys 123a,b.
A perspective view of floating lock 12 is depicted in FIGS.
3A and 3B. Floating lock 12 has angled-faced fingers, protrusions, or drive keys 123a,b and gaps 122 that may reciprocally correspond to fingers 52 and gaps 54 located on filter
key 5. It is not necessary for the drive keyI gap configuration of
floating lock 12 to be exactly complementary to the finger/gap
configuration of filter key 5. It is only necessary that floating
lock 12 is able to folly receive the inserting filter key 5 when
filter housing assembly 200 is axially inserted into filter base
100. Each drive key 123a,b offloating lock 12 is shaped with
a receiving wedge 129a, b, respectively, opposite slanted edge
l2la,b to capture fingers 52 of filter key 5. Fingers 52 may
have a cross-sectional diamond shape to facilitate the capture
by the drive key receiving wedge l29a,b. Drive keys 123a,b
are placed on at least one longitudinal side of floating lock 12,
as depicted in FIGS. 3D and 3E. Underneath and centered
between drive keys 123a,b is a row of position stops 125.
Position stops 125 preclude fingers 52 from extending any
further during insertion. There need not be a position stop 125
for each drive key 123a,b, provided there is at least one
position stop 125 to prohibit over insertion of filter key 5.
Position stops 125 also include a slanted or angled face 126
for slidable contact with slanted face 58 of fingers 52 on filter
key 5. Position stops 125 are shown as a row of jagged edges,
but do not have to correspond one-for-one with drive keys
l23a,b.
Upon insertion, when fingers 52 of filter key 5 contact drive
keys 123a,b, floating lock 12 shifts away from its initial
position, against retraction forces, and moves according to the
contacting angled edges 58 and 121. Once wings 56a,b of
fingers 52 clear lip l27a,b of drive keys 123a,b, floating lock
12 is not prohibited from reacting to the retraction forces, and
moves slightly back, towards its original position where diamond shaped wings 56a,b are then trapped by receiving
wedges l29a,b. This position locks filter key 5 to floating lock
12 resisting any a direct axial extraction force.
There is a gap or space 124 between the bottom most
portion of drive key 123a,b and top most portion of position
stop 125. Upon extraction, when wings 56a,b of fingers 52 are
pushed within this gap or space, there is no structure preventing floating lock 12 from responding to the tensional retraction forces acting on it. Thus, floating lock 12 is free to
respond to the retraction forces, and will tend to move
towards its initial position. This will align fingers 52 of filter
key 5 within gaps 122 of floating lock 12 and allow for easy
extraction of filter housing 200.
In order to extract filter housing assembly 200, a user again
pushes axially inwards on the filter housing assembly, which
releases wings 56a,b on filter key 5 from drive keys 123a,b.
This frees floating lock 12 to return to towards its original
position, and locates fingers 52 on filter key 5 at gaps 122 of
floating lock 12. Filter housing assembly 200 can now be
freely extracted from filter base 100. Resilient members 1110
within shut-off stanchions llOla,b of non-floating port 11
assist in pushing or extracting filter housing assembly 200
away from filter base 100.
FIG. 9A is a perspective view of non-floating port 11,
which works in tandem with rear plate 13 or rear plate 1300 to
hold floating or sliding lock 12 in place while allowing it to
freely move longitudinally off its center position and back to
its center position during the insertion and extraction of filter
housing assembly 200. As discussed further herein, non-
floating port 11 will also hold floating lock 1200 and floating
lock 1212 of FIG. 8. For simplicity, reference is made chiefly
to the interaction of non-floating port 11 with floating lock 12,
although the applicability of non-floating port 11 includes
usage with floating lock 1200and1212 as well. Non-floating
port 11 includes a protruding encasement 1102, larger than
floating lock 12, and made to enclose floating lock 12 therein.
Encasement 1102 prevents over-travel of floating lock 12, and
protects it when installed from extraneous, unintended movement. FIG. 9B is a top plan view of non-floating port 11.
Stanchions llOla,b are located on opposite sides of encasement 1102. Ports 1103 represent the ingress and egress ports
for the fluid. Shut-off stanchions llOla,b include shutoff
plugs 14, which act as valve seals to stop fluid flow when the
filter cartridge is being removed. Shut-off stanchions llOla,b
are preferably cylindrical in shape, containing spring activated, a-ring sealed plugs for sealing the ingress and egress
lines during filter cartridge removal. In a preferred embodiment, rear plate 13 is snap fitted into non-floating port 11. In
order to accommodate this, snap fittings 1105 are shown on
non-floating port 11 that receive a corresponding fitting 135
on rear plate 13.
Referring to FIG. 1, floating lock 12 is supported by nonfloating port 11 and rear plate 13. FIG. lOA is a top plan view
of one embodiment of rear plate 13 of the present invention.
FIG. lOB depicts a bottom perspective view ofrear plate 13.
Rear plate 13 secures floating lock 12 within a support structure in non-floating port 11. Rear plate 13 is preferably
attached by snap fit to non-floating port 11, although other
attachment schemes known in the art may be easily
employed, such as bonding, welding, and assorted mechanical fasteners. Rear plate 13 is formed with extensions 132 on
each end, and shaped gaps 133 therebetween. Gaps 133 are
shaped to go around shut-off stanchions llOla,b of nonfloating port 11. In this embodiment, rear plate 13 includes a
center aperture 131 that allows for longitudinal movement of
floating lock 12. Floating lock 12 may include an extension
member opposite the face configured with fingers and gaps, in
order to permit resilient components, such as helical or torsion springs to act upon it. FIGS. 3C and 3E are side views of
the floating lock showing extension member 128. FIG. 3B is
a perspective view of the floating lock 12 with extension
member 128. FIG. SE depicts floating lock 1212 with extension member 1280. In these embodiments, the extension
member is acted upon by resilient devices held by the rear
plate.
FIG. lOC is a top plan view of another embodiment of the
rear plate 1300 of the present invention. In this embodiment,
the topside of rear plate 1300 includes a domed, slotted cover
1302 over the center aperture. Cover 1302 is formed to encase
springs or other resilient members about the extension member 128 extending from floating lock 12. Dome 1302 includes
a slot 1304 that is made to receive the extension member 128
from floating lock 12. Slot 1304 helps retain linear movement
offloating lock 12 inside dome 1302. In this embodiment, two
complementary resilient members, such as springs, would
reside on each side of the extension member 128 of floating
lock 12. One resilient member preferably applies force on the
floating lock extension member in one direction, while the
other resilient member applies force to the floating lock
extension member in the opposite direction. In this manner,
no matter which way floating lock 12 is moved or shifted, a
retraction force presents itself to return floating lock 12 to its
original, centered position.
At all times during insertion, the filter housing assembly is
under extraction forces that tend to push the housing out of the
filter base. These extraction forces result from resilient mem-
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bers in each shut-off stanchion llOla,b of non-floating port

11 (shown in FIG. 9B) that force shutoff plugs 14 into position in order to block the ingress and egress ports. Preferably,
the extraction forces on shutoff plugs 14 are provided by a
spring 1110 in each port, although other resilient members
may be used to provide a similar result. Inserting the filter
housing assembly into the filter base works against these
extraction forces, and pushes shutoff plugs 14 further up each
shut-off stanchion llOla,b of non-floating port 11. This
allows for fluid ingress, while keeping the filter housing
assembly under the constant extraction force.
Protective port shroud 4 may be placed over filter head 2, to
protect the floating lock 12 and filter key 5 mechanism from
damage and debris. Shroud 4 is preferably supported by the
extension supports on the filter manifold.
FIGS. 6A and 6B are exploded views of another embodiment of the filter assembly of the present invention, showing
the combination of filter manifold 300, filter key 500, and
filter head 210. Filter key 500 is depicted without a locking
nub or tab; however it may included a locking nub to facilitate
attachment to the filter head. FIG. 7F depicts filter key 590
with locking nub or tab 501. Locking nub 501 is located at the
base of filter key 590. In this embodiment, filter key 500 or
590 and filter manifold 300 are modified such that floating
lock 1200 or 1212 of FIG.Sis slidably shifted by the interaction wings 560a,b of an extended boss 550 on filter key 500
or 590 with drive keys 1210a,b of floating lock 1200.
Filter key 500 or 590 is inserted within floating lock 1200
through the axial insertion of the filter housing assembly into
the filter base. Hammerhead shaped wings 560a,b on fingers
520 of filter key 500 and drive keys l210a,b on floating lock
1200 or 1212 slidably contact one another, causing a transverse motion of floating lock 1200 or 1212 perpendicular to
the axial motion of insertion. In this manner, floating lock
1200 or 1212 is shifted longitudinally, in a direction radially
relative to the filter housing assembly axis. Fingers 520 of
filter key 500 are positioned within the gaps 1220 on floating
lock 1200 or 1212. Once filter key 500 or 590 is inserted,
floating lock 1200 or 1212 is returned partially towards its
original position by retracting tensional forces, preferably by
complementary spring forces, so that the fingers on floating
lock 1200 or 1212 align directly with fingers 520 on filter key
500 or 590, thus preventing a direct extraction force from
removing the filter housing assembly from the filter base.
FIG. 7F depicts a top perspective view of filter key 590. At
one end of filter key 590 is an upwardly extended angled boss
550. Boss 550 rises above horizontal plane 570 created by the
top portion of fingers 520, and is angled toward fingers 520,
with its highest point at one end of filter key 500. Boss 550
angles downward from its highest point towards fingers 520.
Preferably, boss 550 is an upwardly facing triangular or
wedge shaped design having wings 560a,b for interaction
with drive keys l210a,b, respectively, on floating lock 1200.
FIG. 7E depicts an end view of filter key 500 showing a
hammerhead shaped boss 550 rising above plane 570 created
by fingers 520, and wings 560a,b extending laterally from
boss 550 resembling what may be considered a hammerhead
shape. The purpose of wings 560a, bis to contact corresponding angled drive keys l210a,b on floating key 1200.
A perspective view of the complementary floating lock
1200 is depicted in FIG. SA. The only difference between
floating lock 1200 of FIG. SA and floating lock 1212 of FIG.
SE is the addition of an extension member 12SO on floating
lock 1212. Floating lock 1200 has fingers 1230a,b and gaps
1220 that may reciprocally correspond to fingers 520 and
gaps 540 located on filter key 500 or 590. It is not necessary
for the finger/gap configuration of floating lock 1200 to be
exactly complementary to the finger/gap configuration of

filter key 500 or 590. It is only necessary that floating lock
1200 is able to fully receive the inserting filter key 500 when
the filter housing assembly is axially inserted into the filter
base. Furthermore, once floating lock 1200 is subjected to
retraction forces acting to return it partially towards its original position, it is necessary that at least one finger on filter key
500 or 590 vertically align with at least one finger on floating
lock 1200 or 1212 preventing any extraction without further
shifting of floating lock 1200or1212.
Using floating lock 1200 and filter key 500 as illustrative
examples, upon slidable contact of wings 560a, b on filter key
500 and drive keys 1210a,b on floating lock 1200, floating
lock 1200 moves in a transverse motion, perpendicular to the
axial motion ofinsertion. In this manner, floating lock 1200 is
shifted longitudinally, in a direction radially relative to the
filter housing assembly axis. Fingers 520 of filter key 500 are
positioned within the gaps 1220 on floating lock 1200. Once
filter key 500 is inserted, floating lock 1200 is returned partially towards its original position by retracting tensional
forces, preferably by complementary spring forces, so that
the fingers on floating lock 1200 align directly with fingers
520 on filter key 500, thus preventing a direct extraction force
from removing the filter housing assembly from the filter
base.
Fingers 1230a,b are preferably constructed of the same
material as floating lock 1200 and integrally formed therewith. However, fingers 1230 may also be removably attached,
and the floating lock design is not limited to an integrally
formed construction. Additionally, the present invention is
not limited to any particular finger/gap order. It is not necessary for the finger/gap configuration on one side of floating
lock 1200 to be symmetric with the finger/gap configuration
on the opposite side. Floating lock 1200 is responsive to
tensional forces, such as complementary springs acting on it
from two separate directions to provide resistance longitudinally. Floating lock 1200 effectively moves longitudinally
when acted upon by filter key 500, and is forced to return
partially towards its original position after fingers 520 of filter
key 500 have traversed through gaps 1220. Upon partial
retraction, fingers 520 are aligned behind or underneath fingers 1230 of floating lock 1200. FIG. SB is a top view of
floating lock 1200 showing laterally extending fingers
1230a,b and adjacent gaps 1220 between the fingers.
FIG. SC is a cross-sectional view of floating lock 1200,
depicting drive key 1210a, which is located at one end of
floating lock 1200 on longitudinal or side panel 1240. Drive
key 1210a is opposite a similar drive key 1210b (not shown),
which is located on the opposite longitudinal panel of floating
lock 1200. Both drive keys are designed to have an angled
face for slidably interacting with wings 560a, b of boss 550 on
filter key 500. Each drive key is preferably integrally fabricated with floating lock 1200; however, the drive keys may be
fabricated separately and attached to the longitudinal panels
of floating lock 1200 by attachment means known in the art.
As shown in FIG. SC, below drive key 1210a is a position key
or physical stop 1250, preferably formed with the supporting
lateral wall 1260 of floating lock 1200. As shown in FIG. SB,
position key 1250 is situated between drive keys l210a,b.
Position key 1250 may be integrally formed with lateral wall
1260, or may be separately attached thereto by any acceptable
means in the prior art, such as bonding, welding, gluing, press
fitting, and the like. Position key 1250 acts as a physical stop
to ensure against over travel of floating lock 1200. Position
key 1250 is situated below drive keys 1210a,b by a distance
designed to accommodate the insertion of boss 550 of filter
key 500. Upon insertion of filter key 500 into floating lock
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1200, boss 550 traverses through gap 1270 in floating lock

1200 formed by the space between drive keys 1210a,b. Wings
560a,b of boss 550 extend outward relative to the width of
boss 550, traversing between lateral wall 1260 and drive keys
l210a,b. In this manner, wings 560a,b retain floating lock
1200 from retracting back to its original position while boss
550 is being inserted. At all times, floating lock 1200 is under
the retraction force of resilient members, such as tandem
springs, or the like, tending to keep floating lock 1200 its
original position, which is preferably a centered position.
During insertion of filter key 500, wings 560a,b interact with
drive keys 1210a,b to shift floating lock 1200 longitudinally
off-center while under the resilient retraction forces. Upon
full insertion, when boss 550 reaches and contacts position
key 1250, wings 560a,b are no longer held by drive keys
l210a,b because the length of drive keys 1210a,b is shorter
than the length of boss 550. At this point in the insertion
process, the tensional retraction forces shift floating lock
1200 towards its original position.
Once wings 560a,b reach position key 1250, and the user
releases the insertion force initially applied on the filter housing assembly, the extraction forces from shutoff plug springs
1110 dominate. These forces push the filter housing assembly
axially outwards, away from floating lock 1200. Since wings
560a,b are no longer bound between drive keys 1210a,b and
lateral wall 1260, floating lock 1200 will tend to shift longitudinally, partially towards its original position as filter key
500 moves slightly axially outwards. At this point, wings
560a,b interact with edge angles l280a,b to push away from
the center position, shifting filter key 500, and combining or
contacting with face l300a,b to keep the filter housing from
retracting. FIG. SD depicts an exploded view of drive key
1210a with edge angle 1290a and face 1300a.
Fingers 520 of filter key 500 are now aligned with fingers
1230 of floating lock 1200 and remain in contact in a vertical
plane in the axial direction, prohibiting extraction of the filter
It is envisioned that the preferred embodiment of the
present invention would be disposed in a refrigerator, most
likely within the door. The output of the filter assembly may
be selectively coupled to a water dispenser or an ice dispenser.
The water source to the refrigerator would be in fluid communication with filter base 100, and prohibited from flowing
when filter housing assembly 200 is removed from filter base
100. Shutoff plugs 14 in stanchions llOla,b seal fluid flow
until filter housing assembly 200 is inserted in filter base 100.
Upon insertion, fluid would flow to the filter housing assembly and filter water would be returned from the filter housing
assembly.
All parts of the filter housing assembly 200 and filter base
100 may be made using molded plastic parts according to
processes known in the art. The filter media may be made
from known filter materials such as carbon, activated carbons,
malodorous carbon, porous ceramics and the like. The filter
media, which may be employed in the filter housing of the
instant invention, includes a wide variety of filter media
capable of removing one or more harmful contaminants from
water entering the filter housing apparatus. Representative of
the filter media employable in the filter housing include those
found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,872,311, 6,835,311, 6,797,167,
6,630,016, 6,331,037, and 5,147,722. In addition, the filter
composition disclosed in the following Published Applications may be employed as the filter media: US 2005/0051487
and US 2005/00111827.
The filter assembly is preferably mounted on a surface in
proximity to a source of water. The mounting means are also
preferably in close proximity to the use of the filtered water

produced by the filter housing apparatus.
While the present invention has been particularly
described, in conjunction with a specific preferred embodiment, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and
variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of
the foregoing description. It is therefore contemplated that the
appended claims will embrace any such alternatives, modifications and variations as falling within the true scope and
spirit of the present invention.
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The invention claimed is:

portion including:
an ingress port;
an egress port;
surface, longitudinal sides, and lateral sides, said filter
key including spaced protrusions or fingers on said
longitudinal sides of said filter key extending laterally
from said top surface, wherein said filter key includes
a locking nub or tab for attachment to said top portion.
fingers include winged extensions having slanted or angled
faces.
fingers include a diamond shaped cross-section.
4. The filter housing assembly of claim 1 including a boss
extending in an axial direction above said top surface of said
filter key, said boss having an angled face of predetermined
width ramping upwards from said filter key top surface and
lateral segments or wings extending beyond said boss width.
said filter key formed integrally with said filter housing top
portion.
said filter key removably attached to said top portion.
said filter key attached to said filter housing top portion by
snap fit, friction fit, welding, or bonding.
8. The filter housing assembly of claim 1 including a filter
manifold attached to said filter housing top portion, said filter
manifold comprising an attachment structure for fixably
receiving said filter key.
9. The filter housing assembly of claim 8 wherein one of
said ingress or egress ports is located on said filter manifold.
ingress port and said egress port are off axial center of said
filter housing.
spaced protrusions or fingers are integrally formed with said
filter key.
said spaced protrusions or fingers forming a predetermined
pattern for identifying different filter attributes unique to a
said filter key color-coded, transparent, translucent, mirrored,
textured, materially modified, or having a conductively signature for identifying different filter attributes specific to a

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portion including:
an ingress port;
an egress port; and
key including spaced protrusions or fingers on said longitudinal sides of said filter key extending laterally from
said top surface, wherein said top portion includes a
filter key location boss or support member extending
axially upwards from said top portion at a distance away
from an axial center point, and filter key lateral support
members located opposite said filter key location boss
on the other side of said axial center point and extending
axially upwards from said top portion, said filter key
lateral support members having a separation approximately equal to said filter key width, said filter key
location boss and said filter key lateral support members
forming a structural support with exposed surfaces for
attaching said filter key to said top portion.
a filter housing for enclosing a filter media;
a filter head having at least one port in fluid communication
with said filter media, said filter head forming a fluidtight seal with said filter housing;
a filter manifold comprising:
a base portion axially centered about said filter head;
a port in fluid communication with said filter media; and
a first attachment structure located on said base portion
for receiving a filter key, wherein said filter manifold
first attachment structure includes an axially extending protrusion, extending upwards relative to said filter manifold base portion; and
said filter key having a top surface, a bottom, longitudinal
sides, and lateral sides, said filter key including:
spaced protrusions or fingers on said longitudinal sides
of said filter key extending laterally from said top
surface and having winged extensions; and
a second attachment structure located on said filter key
bottom for attaching said filter key to said first attachment structure on said filter manifold.
filter manifold is formed integrally with said filter head.
filter head includes a formed top surface for fixably attaching
said filter manifold in a fluid-tight seal.
filter manifold is fixably or removably attached to said filter
head in a fluid-tight seal.
filter key is fixably or removably attached to said filter manifold.
filter key fingers include slanted or angled faces on said
winged extensions.
winged extensions have a diamond shaped cross-section.
filter head includes a filter key location boss or support member extending axially upwards from said filter head top surface at a distance away from said filter head axial center point,
and filter key lateral support members located opposite said
filter key location boss on the other side of said axial center
point and extending axially upwards from said filter head top
surface, said filter key lateral support members having a separation approximately equal to said filter key width, said filter
key location boss and said filter key lateral support members
forming a structural support with exposed surfaces for attaching said filter key to said filter head.
filter key location boss includes an aperture for receiving a
locking nub or tab from said filter key.
filter key second attachment structure includes a complementary groove or slot on said filter key bottom to attach with said
axially extending protrusion of said filter manifold.
filter manifold includes an ingress or egress port located off
axial center of said filter housing.
filter manifold first attachment structure includes a groove or
slot to receive and attach a structural member from said filter
key bottom.
filter key second attachment structure includes a complementary axially extending protrusion on said filter key bottom to
mate with said groove or slot of said filter manifold.
first attachment structure includes an axially extending protrusion having a dovetail shape.
filter manifold includes radially extending arms about said
base portion, providing structural support for a shroud.
30. The filter housing assembly of claim 15 including a
boss extending in an axial direction above said top surface of
said filter key, said boss having an angled face of predetermined width ramping upwards from said filter key top surface
and lateral segments or wings extending beyond said boss
width.
31. A filter base for releasably connecting to a complementary mating filter housing assembly comprising:
a base platform having fluid ingress and egress ports; and
a floating lock in sliding communication with said base
platform, having a bottom surface, a top surface, and
longitudinal and lateral sides, said floating lock including:
spaced protrusions, drive keys, or fingers on said longitudinal sides extending laterally inwards, including at
least one shaped protrusion, finger, or drive key for
slidably contacting said complementary mating filter
housing assembly, said at least one shaped protrusion,
finger, or drive key including an angled face exposed
towards the bottom surface, and an edge or wedge
opposite said angled face for releasably securing said
complementary mating filter housing assembly.
32. The filter base of claim 31 wherein said floating lock
includes a position stop centered about said lateral sides, and
located above said at least one drive key to provide a physical
stop during insertion of said complementary mating filter key.
33. The filter base of claim 32 wherein said position key
includes a track structure longitudinally across said floating
lock.
34. The filter base of claim 31 including an enclosure for
receiving said floating lock, said enclosure allowing said
floating lock to slidably move therein.
35. The filter base of claim 31 including an ingress stanchion in fluid communication with said filter base ingress port
and, when connected to said complementary mating filter
housing assembly, in fluid communication with an ingress
port from said complementary mating filter housing assembly, and an egress stanchion in fluid communication with said
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filter base egress port, and when connected to said complementary mating filter housing assembly, in fluid communication with an egress port from said complementary mating
36. The filter base of claim 35 wherein said ingress stanchion includes a shutoff plug to block fluid flow from said
ingress port during extraction of said filter housing assembly,
said shutoff plug in contact with a resilient member to apply
axial or vertical force to said shutoff plug.
37. The filter base of claim 35 wherein said egress stanchion includes a shutoff plug to block fluid flow from said
egress port during extraction of said filter housing assembly,
said shutoff plug in contact with a resilient member to apply
axial or vertical force to said shutoff plug.
38. The filter base of claim 31 including a rear plate
attached to said base platform for at least partially housing
said floating lock.
39. The filter base of claim 31 including at least one resilient member in contact with said floating lock to provide a
retraction force when said floating lock is acted upon by said
filter housing assembly during insertion or extraction of said
40. A filter base for releasably receiving a complementary
mating filter housing assembly comprising:
a base platform having a top surface;
a port for fluid ingress;
a port for fluid egress;
an upper ingress stanchion in fluid communication with
said ingress port, said upper ingress stanchion extending
upwards from said base platform top surface, said upper
ingress stanchion including a first shutoff plug and a
resilient member to apply axial or vertical force to said
first shutoff plug to block fluid flow from said ingress
port during extraction of said filter housing assembly;
an upper egress stanchion in fluid communication with said
egress port, said upper egress stanchion extending
upwards from said base platform top surface, said upper
egress stanchion including a second shutoff plug and a
resilient member to apply axial or vertical force to said
second shutoff plug to block fluid flow from said egress
port during extraction of said filter housing assembly;
a lower ingress stanchion in fluid communication with said
upper ingress stanchion and said ingress port, said lower
ingress stanchion extending axially downwards from
said base platform for receiving an ingress port from said
filter housing assembly;
a lower egress stanchion in fluid communication with said
upper egress stanchion and said egress port, said lower
egress stanchion extending axially downwards from said
base platform for receiving an egress port from said filter
housing assembly;
an enclosure for at least partially receiving a floating lock,
said enclosure allowing said floating lock to slidably
move therein;
said floating lock having longitudinal sides and lateral
sides, including:
spaced fingers, drive keys, or protrusions located on at
least one of said longitudinal sides for releasably mating with fingers of a complementary mating filter key,
at least one of said fingers, drive keys, or protrusions
located on an inside face of said floating lock longitudinal side, and having an angled surface for slidably
contacting fingers on said complementary mating filter housing assembly, such that when said fingers of
said complementary mating filter housing assembly
are inserted within said floating lock, said angled
surface slidably contacts said filter housing assembly
finger, shifting said floating lock in a longitudinal

direction, said at least one of said fingers, drive keys,
or protrusions including a wedge portion on one end
for releasably securing said filter housing assembly
fingers;
a position key centered about said floating lock, above
and adjacent said at least one drive key for providing
a physical stop for said filter housing assembly fingers
during insertion or extraction of said filter housing
assembly;
a rear plate attached to said base platform for housing
said floating lock; and
at least one resilient member attached to said floating
lock to provide a retraction force when said floating
lock is slidably acted upon by said filter housing
assembly during insertion or extraction.
41. The filter base of claim 40 wherein said at least one
drive key comprises two drive keys located on opposite longitudinal sides of said floating lock and having a space therebetween for receiving said complementary mating filter
housing assembly, said drive keys separated such that fingers
of said complementary mating filter housing assembly can be
inserted between said drive keys.
42. The filter base of claim 40 wherein said drive keys are
located on said longitudinal sides such that fingers of said
complementary mating filter housing assembly can traverse
beyond said drive keys during insertion or extraction.
43. A filter base for releasably receiving a complementary
mating filter housing assembly comprising:
a non-floating port including:
a fluid ingress port;
a fluid egress port;
an ingress stanchion in fluid communication with said
ingress port;
an egress stanchion in fluid communication with said
egress port; and
a formed recess for receiving a floating lock, said recess at
least partially enclosing said floating lock and having a
width and length that allows said floating lock to shift
longitudinally therein;
said floating lock having a bottom surface, a top surface,
and longitudinal and lateral sides, and seated within said
non-floating port formed recess, said floating lock
including:
at least one drive key on said longitudinal side extending
laterally inwards at said bottom surface for slidably
receiving an angled boss or winged extension from a
complementary mating filter housing assembly, said
at least one drive key including an angled portion
exposed towards said bottom surface, and an edge or
wedge on each of said drive key bottom for releasably
contacting with a portion of said complementary mating filter housing assembly boss or winged extension;
a position key centered about lateral sides of said floating lock, and located above said at least one drive key
to provide a physical stop during insertion of said
complementary mating filter housing assembly;
at least one resilient member in contact with said floating
lock for applying a longitudinal retraction force in a
direction that tends to push or pull said floating lock
back to an original position;
a rear plate for slidably securing said floating lock within
said non-floating port;
shutoff plugs in each of said stanchions for terminating
fluid flow from said ingress and egress ports when
said complementary mating filter housing assembly is
removed from said filter base;
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a resilient member within each of said stanchions for

applying an axial extraction force to said complementary mating filter housing assembly, and simultaneously move said shutoff plugs into position to cease
fluid flow when said complementary mating filter
housing assembly is extracted.
44. A filter base in combination with a filter housing assembly, said combination comprising:
a filter base having an ingress port and an egress port on a
base platform;
a slidable floating lock in slidable contact of said filter base,
said floating lock having a plurality of drive keys or
lateral extensions separated by gaps;
a resilient member in contact with said floating lock, providing a retraction force for said floating lock; and
a filter housing assembly including:
a filter key having a plurality oflateral extensions separated by gaps, such that when said filter housing
assembly is inserted into said filter base, said fingers
of said filter key slidably contact said lateral extensions of said floating lock to shift said floating lock
relative to said base platform, allowing said fingers on
said filter key to traverse between said lateral extensions on said floating lock, and upon retraction of said
floating lock by said resilient member, said fingers on
said filter key align with said lateral extensions on said
floating lock to prevent extraction of said filter housing assembly.
45. The combination of claim 44 wherein said floating lock
includes:
a bottom surface, a top surface, and longitudinal and lateral
sides, and wherein said lateral extensions include drive
keys on said longitudinal sides extending laterally
inwards at said bottom surface for slidably receiving
said filter key, each of said drive keys including an
angled portion exposed towards said bottom surface,
and an edge or wedge on each of said drive key bottom
for releasably contacting with a portion of said filter key;
and
a position key centered about said floating lock, and
located above said drive keys to provide a physical stop
during insertion of said filter housing assembly.
46. The combination of claim 44 wherein said filter base
includes:
ingress port;
egress port; and
a formed recess for receiving said floating lock, said recess
at least partially enclosing said floating lock and having
a width and length that allows said floating lock to shift
longitudinally therein.
47. The combination of claim 46 including:
a rear plate for securing said floating lock within said filter
base;
shutoff plugs in each of said stanchions for terminating
fluid flow from said ingress and egress ports when said
filter housing assembly is extracted from said filter base;
a resilient member within each of said stanchions for
applying an axial extraction force to said filter housing
assembly, and simultaneously moving said shutoff plugs
into position to cease fluid flow when said filter housing
48. A filter base in combination with a filter housing assembly, said combination comprising:
a base platform having fluid ingress and egress ports;
ingress port;

egress port;
a floating lock in sliding communication with said base
platform, having a bottom surface, a top surface, and
longitudinal and lateral sides, said floating lock including:
extending laterally inwards;
at least one drive key for slidably contacting a boss of a
filter key of said filter housing assembly, said at least one
drive key including an angled face exposed towards said
filter housing assembly, and an edge or lip adjacent said
angled face for releasably securing said boss of said filter
key upon insertion of said filter housing assembly;
at least one resilient member in contact with said floating
lock for applying a longitudinal retraction force in a
direction that tends to push or pull said floating lock back
to an original position;
portion including:
a filter housing ingress port;
a filter housing egress port; and
key including:
of said filter key extending laterally from said top
surface; and
a boss extending in an axial direction above said top
surface of said filter key, said boss having an angled
face of predetermined width ramping upwards from
said filter key top surface and laterally extending segments or wings extending beyond said boss width;
such that, when said filter housing assembly is attached to
said filter base, said angled face of said boss of said filter key
slidably contacts said angled face of said at least one drive key
of said floating lock to shift said floating lock relative to said
base platform, allowing said fingers on said filter key to
traverse between said fingers on said floating lock, and upon
retraction of said floating lock by said at least one resilient
member, said fingers on said filter key align with said fingers
on said floating lock to prevent extraction of said filter housing assembly.
49. A method for attaching a filter housing assembly to a
filter base comprising:
inserting ingress and egress ports of said filter housing
assembly into ingress and egress stanchions of said filter
base;
inserting a filter key of said filter housing assembly having
lateral fingers with winged extensions into a slidable
floating lock having lateral fingers or drive keys by using
said filter key to shift said slidable floating lock longitudinally, whereby said lateral fingers of said filter key
transverse said lateral fingers or drive keys of said floating lock; and
releasing said filter housing assembly so that resilient
members in said filter base apply an extraction force to
said filter housing, moving said filter housing assembly
slightly in an axial extraction direction; and
providing a retraction force to said floating lock during said
releasing to align said floating lock fingers or drive keys
with said filter key fingers, such that extraction of said
filter housing assembly is prohibited.
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Case 3:16-cv-00745 Document 1 Filed 05/17/16 Page 1 of 20

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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V. PRAYER FOR RELIEF

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VI. DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL

Date: May 17, 2016

/s/ Robert Curcio

/s/ David R. Pegnataro

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