Filter with multiple attaching means

A spin-on filter comprising:

• a housing having opposite ends, one of said ends having fluid inlet and outlet openings therein;
• cooperating male and female attaching means on said one end of the filter and on an apparatus with which the filter is to be used, for securing the filter to the apparatus to obtain fluid communication between the apparatus and the interior of the housing, said attaching means on the filter comprising multiple, axially arranged members of different diameters for cooperation with respective corresponding attaching means of different diameters on the apparatus, said members positioned axially adjacent one another and including an inner member and an outer member, the outer member having a larger diameter than the inner member;
• and means releasably holding one of said members adjacent the other of said members, whereby when the filter is positioned to be secured to an attaching means on the apparatus having a large diameter, the corresponding large diameter member on the filter is operatively engaged with and secured to the attaching means on the apparatus, and and other member is inoperative, and when the filter is positioned to be secured to an attaching means on the apparatus having a small diameter, the corresponding small diameter member on the filter is operatively engaged with and secured to the attaching means on the apparatus, and the other member is inoperative, said releasably held member being movable to a non-interfering position when the other of said members is operatively engaged with an attaching means on the apparatus, thus enabling the filter to be selectively used with attaching means of different diameter.