Extension and locking assembly for dripless element, and container therefore

A filter element removably positionable between a pair of housing portions, with a central support core projecting axially away from one of the housing portions toward the other of the housing portions, said filter element comprising:

• i) a ring of filtration media circumscribing a central cavity along a central axis and having first and second ends, and first and second end caps at opposite ends of the media;
• ii) the first end cap having a surface sealingly bonded to a surface at the first end of the filtration media and having a central opening along the central axis of the filter element, said central opening of said first end cap being defined by an annular flange integral with said first end cap and projecting axially inward a short distance from said first end cap toward said second end cap and terminating at a point closer to said first end cap than said second end cap, said annular flange spaced radially inward from the ring of filtration media;
• and a series of elongated protrusions extending axially inward a short first distance from said first end cap toward said second end cap, said protrusions spaced radially outward apart from said flange and radially inward apart from said ring of filtration media, and being radially outwardly bounded by the ring of filtration media;
• and
• iii) the second end cap having a surface sealingly bonded to a surface at the second end of the filtration media;
• the second end cap also having a central opening along the central axis of the filter element, said central opening of said second end cap having a larger diameter than said central opening of said first end cap and dimensioned to receive the central support core, wherein the protrusions remain with the filter element when the filter element is removed from between the pair of housing portions.