Patent ID: 6039778
Filing Date: 2000-03-21
Classification: B01D,F02M

Abstract:
An air cleaner assembly comprising:(a) a body member including a sidewall and an end wall;(i) said body member defining an open air cleaner interior and an air flow inlet;(ii) said sidewall defining an open end for selected insertion and removal of an air filter element;(iii) said body member including a generally cylindrical, cover engagement, surface;(b) a removable cover sized for selective positioning in covering relation to said sidewall open end;(i) said cover including a generally cylindrical, body member engagement, surface;(ii) said body member engagement surface being dimensioned to circumscribe said cover engagement surface;(c) a rotation activated lock assembly having a first unlocked orientation and a second locked orientation;(i) said cover being separable from said body member when said lock assembly is in said first, unlocked, orientation;(ii) said cover being secured to said body member when said lock assembly is in said locked orientation;(iii) said rotation activated lock assembly being constructed and arranged to selectively move between said unlocked orientation and said locked orientation, by rotational movement of said cover relative to said body member;(iv) said cover being selectively rotatably slideable relative to said body member, with said cylindrical cover-engagement surface opposed to said cylindrical body member engagement surface, during selected movement of said lock assembly between said locked and unlocked orientations;(v) said rotation activated lock assembly including a holder arrangement; said holder arrangement comprising a first plurality of p-shaped holders, each having a tail extending generally perpendicular to a direction of rotation of said cover relative to said body member during locking;(A) said body member being a molded plastic construction with said holders molded thereon and integrally therewith;(vi) said rotation activated lock assembly including a second plurality of feet; said feet each including a banana shaped segment oriented to engage a selected one of said p-shaped holders during locking;(A) said tail of each p-shaped holder extending sufficiently far to block rotation of said cover, relative to said body member, by engagement with a portion of a selected foot, beyond a selected amount of rotation, during locking;(B) said cover being a molded plastic member with said feet molded thereon and integrally therewith; and(d) a moveable engagement finger selectively positionable between engaged and release positions;(i) said engagement finger, when in said engaged position, being positioned to secure a portion of a selected holder between a portion of the engagement finger and a portion of a selected foot member to prevent rotational movement of the cover relative to the body member; and,(ii) said engagement finger, when in said release position, releasing a selected holder to allow selected rotational movement of the cover relative to the body member.