Twist and lock filter housing with nontorsional anti-rotation stop

A filter housing extending along an axis comprising first and second mating housing sections, one of said housing sections being a base extending axially between distally opposite axial ends, the other of said housing sections being a cover mounted to one of said axial ends of said base by twist and lock structure providing an axial retention force holding said base and cover in axial assembled condition upon axial movement of said base and cover towards each other followed by rotation in a first rotational direction about said axis, said twist and lock structure having a first position permitting axial movement of said base and cover relative to each other, said twist and lock structure being rotatable in said first rotational direction from said first position to a second position, said twist and lock structure in said second position preventing axial movement of said base and cover relative to each other, said twist and lock structure being rotatable in a second rotational direction from said second position to said first position, said second rotational direction being opposite to said first rotational direction, anti-rotation lock structure comprising an arm mounted to said first housing section and extending partially circumferentially therealong along an arc of said rotation and releasably engaging said second housing section and applying a rotational retention force in a direction along said arm tangent to said arc and holding said twist and lock structure in said second position, said arm extending between first and second circumferentially spaced ends, said first end being stationarily integrally mounted to said first housing section, said arm flexing along a bend line parallel to said axis and perpendicular to said arc and said retention force direction, and comprising a second arm extending partially circumferentially along said arc between first and second circumferentially spaced ends, said first end of said second arm being common with said first end of said first mentioned arm and stationarily integrally mounted to said first housing section at a fulcrum, said second arm extending from said fulcrum oppositely from said first arm to form a teeter-totter such that radial inward depression of said second end of said second arm causes radial outward movement of said second end of said first arm to release said twist and lock structure to rotate from said second position to said first position.

A filter housing extending along an axis comprising first and second mating housing sections, one of said housing sections being a base extending axially between distally opposite axial ends, the other of said housing sections being a cover mounted to one of said axial ends of said base by twist and lock structure providing an axial retention force holding said base and cover in axial assembled condition upon axial movement of said base and cover towards each other followed by rotation in a first rotational direction about said axis, said twist and lock structure having a first position permitting axial movement of said base and cover relative to each other, said twist and lock structure being rotatable in said first rotational direction from said first position to a second position, said twist and lock structure in said second position preventing axial movement of said base and cover relative to each other, said twist and lock structure being rotatable in a second rotational direction from said second position to said first position, said second rotational direction being opposite to said first rotational direction, anti-rotation lock structure comprising an arm mounted to said first housing section and extending partially circumferentially therealong along an arc of said rotation and releasably engaging said second housing section and applying a rotational retention force in a direction along said arm tangent to said arc and holding said twist and lock structure in said second position, said arm extending between first and second circumferentially spaced ends, said first end being stationarily integrally mounted to said first housing section, said arm flexing along a bend line parallel to said axis and perpendicular to said arc and said retention force direction, said arm being a cantilever arm having a root end at said first end and a free end at said second end, and comprising a pair of distally opposite gripper wings extending axially from said arm for manual engagement and radial outward pulling of said second end of said arm to release said twist and lock structure to rotate from said second position to said first position.

A filter housing extending along an axis comprising first and second mating housing sections, one of said housing sections being a base extending axially between distally opposite axial ends, the other of said housing sections being a cover mounted to one of said axial ends of said base by twist and lock structure providing an axial retention force holding said base and cover in axial assembled condition upon axial movement of said base and cover towards each other followed by rotation in a first rotational direction about said axis, said twist and lock structure having a first position permitting axial movement of said base and cover relative to each other, said twist and lock structure being rotatable in said first rotational direction from said first position to a second position, said twist and lock structure in said second position preventing axial movement of said base and cover relative to each other, said twist and lock structure being rotatable in a second rotational direction from said second position to said first position, said second rotational direction being opposite to said first rotational direction, anti-rotation lock structure comprising an arm stationarily mounted to said first housing section and flexibly bendable along a bend line extending parallel to said axis, said arm having a hook portion engageable with said second housing section and applying a rotational retention force stopping rotation of said twist and lock structure from said second position to said first position, the direction of said force being along said arm for enhanced strength, rather than transverse thereto which may otherwise cause torsional twisting of said arm along a torsional twist line other than said bend line.