Bag filter and retainer therefor

A filter for filtering fluids, comprising:

• a) a hollow, molded, plastic housing having an open end, a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;
• b) a molded plastic cap threadedly received on said housing for sealing said open end;
• c) a removable filter element contained within said housing positioned between said fluid inlet and said fluid outlet;
• and
• d) a molded, resilient, plastic retainer compressed between said cap and said filter element for retaining said filter element in position within said filter, said retainer including a hub positioned above said filter such that said hub is movable toward said filter element in response to the application of said cap to said housing, a ring positioned in abutment with said filter element, and a plurality of resilient legs extending between said hub and said ring, each of said legs being deformable in response to the movement of said hub toward said ring, whereby said legs inhibit said retainer from applying excess compressive forces against said filter element as said cap is applied to said housing.

A filter for filtering fluids, comprising:

• a) a hollow housing having an open end, a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;
• b) a cap removably received on said housing for sealing said open end thereof;
• c) a removable filter element contained within said housing between said fluid inlet and said fluid outlet, said filter element being a bag filter and including a bag support and a filter bag, which is disposed within said bag support, said filter bag including a sealing ring at a mouth thereof for sealing against said bag support;
• and
• d) a resilient retainer captured between said cap and said filter element the retaining said filter element in position within said filter, said retainer having a plurality of resilient legs extending from a central hub, each of said legs including an inverted "U"-shaped portion proximate said hub to enhance the resiliency of said legs and to provide a depressed hub relative to the apex of said "U"-shaped portion, said cap having substantially centrally located engaging means, which depend from said cap, for engaging and pressing against said retainer and for urging said retainer into contact with said filter element, and said retainer being self-centering.

A filter for filtering fluids, comprising:

• a) a hollow, molded, plastic housing having an open end, a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;
• b) a molded plastic cap threadedly received on said housing for sealing said open end;
• c) a removable filter element contained within said housing positioned between said fluid inlet and said fluid outlet, said filter element being a bag filter and including a bag support and a filter bag, which is disposed within said bag support, said filter bag including a sealing ring at a mouth thereof for sealing against said bag support;
• and
• d) a molded, resilient, plastic retainer captured between said cap and said filter element for retaining said filter element in position within said filter, said retainer having a plurality of resilient legs extending from a central hub, each of said legs including an inverted "U"-shaped portion proximate said hub to enhance the resiliency of said legs and to provide a depressed hub relative to the apex of said "U"-shaped portion, said cap having substantially centrally located engaging means, which depend from said cap, for engaging and pressing against said retainer and for urging said retainer into contact with said filter element, and said retainer being self-centering.