Patent Abstract:
An engine oil filter conversion assembly is provided for allowing a user to replace a standard canister oil filter with an assembly that facilitates removal and replacement of the internal paper filter element therein. The assembly comprises a housing similar to a canister oil filter, wherein the canister includes removably attached components such that the internal filter element is accessible, whereby the filter element can be replaced during an oil change instead of the complete canister. The purpose of the present invention is to reduce waste and allow the filter element only to be discarded, while facilitating quick access to the filter element and providing an assembly that can replace canister oil filters on modern internal combustion engines. The assembly comprises a baseplate, a louvered center tube, a removable filter element, a filter housing, a lower end seal and a joining fastener.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/840,263 filed on Jun. 27, 2013, entitled “Oil Filter Conversion Kit.” The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to combustion engine oil filters. More specifically, the present invention relates to a conversion kit that allows a user to replace canister style engine oil filters with a housing that supports a removable paper filter element, allowing the user to replace only the filter element during an oil change to reduce waste products during engine servicing. 
         [0004]    Internal combustion engines require lubrication to reduce friction, prevent wear, and to maintain optimal performance of the mechanical assembly. Many surfaces are in contact with one another, therefore sufficient surface lubrication is necessary to ensure smooth operation. All vehicle owners and mechanics are accustomed to changing the oil of their vehicle&#39;s engine periodically during its useful life, which involves draining and replacing the engine oil, and also replacing the engine oil filter that filters particulates and solid material from within the oil as it is circulated through the engine. Oil filters prolong the life of the engine oil and are used to trap metal shavings, contaminants, and other debris from the oil as it circulates, in an attempt to maintain the cleanliness of the oil and therefore a stable lubricity and fluid viscosity. 
         [0005]    Engine oil filters are known in the art and come in different forms. The first major type is the oil filter element type, in which a filter element or cartridge is removed from the engine and replaced during oil change maintenance intervals. Older vehicles deployed this technique, and even some newer generation vehicles have returned to this method as a means of reducing material waste during the oil change process. However, most modern vehicles employ the canister style oil filter assembly, which comprises an enclosed housing having a filter element therein, where the entire canister is threaded into position on the vehicle engine and the entire canister is discarded and replaced during an oil change. This type of oil filter is convenient and less messy to replace, however it is accompanied with a much larger environmental footprint. Replacing the entire canister means the canister and the element are discarded and replaced, wherein the older method of replacing just the filter element creates a waste product in the paper filter only. 
         [0006]    Most vehicles have either one type of oil filter or another, without a means to switch between the filter element style and the canister style oil filter. The present invention provides a new and novel assembly that allows a vehicle equipped to support a canister style oil filter the option of retrofitting the present invention to allow replacement of the filter element alone. Specifically, the present invention is an oil canister assembly that includes a structure that separates such that access and removal of the filter element is facilitated such that replacement of the entire canister is not necessary. 
         [0007]    The present invention comprises an oil canister housing having a removably attached baseplate, a removably attached lower end seal, an louvered center tube, a removably paper filter element, and a joining fastener that secures the lower end seal to the housing and encloses the filter element therein. The baseplate includes a seal member, an apertured surface to accept oil therethrough, and a central post that threadably attaches to the vehicle engine on one side and to the louvered center tube at the opposite side. The center tube allows oil to flow into the filter element, which is positioned thereover and pressed against the baseplate. The lower end seal is secured to the housing via the joining fastener, whereby the assembly can be broken down to first drain the oil and the retrieve and replace the filter element therein. Overall, the present invention provides consumers and mechanics with a convenient means of retrofitting a standard canister oil filter with one that produces less waste products during an oil change procedure. 
         [0008]    2. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0009]    Devices have been disclosed in the prior art that relate to assemblable oil filters and those that support removable filter elements. These include devices that have been patented and published in patent application publications. The following is a list of devices deemed most relevant to the present disclosure, which are herein described for the purposes of highlighting and differentiating the unique aspects of the present invention, and further highlighting the drawbacks existing in the prior art. 
         [0010]    Such devices include U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,227,381 and 6,499,605 to Koivula, which disclose a spin-on oil filter that comprises a casing with an openable end. The casing is removable to access the filter and remove the same, wherein the filter is attached to a collar that connects to the vehicle engine and allows engine oil to enter therethrough. This assembly permits the user to remove the filter element by removing the outer casing; however it is structured such that the entire casing must be removed first, whereby oil within the casing cannot first be drained, and furthermore the entire casing must be removed to facilitate removal of the filter element. While fulfilling a similar purpose, the structure and the configuration of the Koivula device diverges from that of the present invention, which provides a housing having a removable lower end seal and a threadably attached baseplate attaching to the vehicle engine. The present invention adds greater flexibility with regard to draining the oil and then accessing the filter therein. 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,374,355 to Habiger an oil filter having a base plate that can be fastened to a threaded nipple, a cover that is releasably fastened to the base plate, and a support tube disposed on the cover or base plate. The filter element is placed over the support tube. The filter cartridge is in contact with a seal on the base plate and an additional seal on the cover. The device of Habiger allows one to replace the filter element alone, as provided herein. However, the present invention includes a removable lower end seal as well as a removable baseplate, both of which are secured to the oil canister housing to form an enclosed volume secured by the securing fastener. The present invention offers greater flexibility and allows the user to neatly drain the filter housing before opening the same and retrieving the filter element therefrom. 
         [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,987 to Mules discloses an oil filter assembly that supports a removable filter element that is attached by a screw-thread attachment at the opening of the oil filter body. The oil filter body supports the oil filter element herein, wherein the element is replaceable. A base supports an elongated tube supporting the filter element, wherein the base is attached to the body. Similar to the 
         [0013]    Habiger and Koivula devices, the Mules device fails to offer the ability to separate the housing of the oil filter canister as provided herein, or with the ability to drain the housing prior to separation of the housing from the baseplate or from the engine. 
         [0014]    Still other devices in the art include U.S. Pat. No. 6,224,758 to Jainek and U.S. Pat. No. 5,548,893 to Koelfgen. These devices, as with the aforementioned devices, do not provide an oil filter assembly having a housing support a removable baseplate, end seal and a removable center post. Furthermore, these devices do not allow the engine oil to be drained prior to removing the filter housing, which can be an unnecessary mess. The present invention supports a securing fastener that acts as a drain nut prior to removing the housing from the baseplate to access the removable filter element. 
         [0015]    The present invention provides an oil filter assembly that is completely disassemblable, whereby the housing of the assembly connects to a removable baseplate and end seal, while the filter element is secured therein and removable after the sealing fastener is removed and the engine oil is drained from the assembly. In this way, the present invention provides a novel means of replacing the canister style oil filter of an internal combustion engine. It is submitted that the present invention is substantially divergent in design elements from the prior art, and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing oil filter devices. In this regard the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of oil filter assemblies now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new oil filter assembly that can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when retrofitting a removable filter element style filter for a canister style filter element on a vehicle engine. 
         [0017]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved oil filter assembly that has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages. 
         [0018]    It is another object of the present invention to provide an oil filter assembly that can be used as a replacement for a canister oil filter for an internal combustion engine, wherein the assembly allows the user to replace only the internal filter element and not replace an entire canister every oil change interval. 
         [0019]    Another object of the present invention is to provide an oil filter assembly that secures to an engine in the same fashion as a canister oil filter but provides a means of separation such that the internal filter element can be accessed, removed, and replaced. 
         [0020]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an oil filter assembly that comprises a construction that allows the user to first drain the filter assembly of oil prior to disassembly and prior to replacing the filter element therein. 
         [0021]    Another object of the present invention is to provide an oil filter assembly that may be readily fabricated from materials that permit relative economy and are commensurate with durability. 
         [0022]    Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]    Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout. 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  shows an exploded view of the oil filter assembly of the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  shows a cross section view of the baseplate of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  shows a view of the louvered center post of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0027]    Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the oil filter assembly of the present invention. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for replacing canister style oil filters and allowing a user to replace only the internal filter element of the oil filter during each oil change interval. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect. 
         [0028]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is shown an exploded view of the oil filter assembly of the present invention, illustrating its constituent elements. The oil filter assembly is one that supports a removable filter element  31  within a housing  11  such that a user or mechanic can remove and replace the filter element  31  only when changing engine oil, as opposed to discarding an entire oil filter canister. The assembly comprises a housing  11  having a hollow interior  12  and a tubular design. The housing  11  comprises a first end  13  and a second end  14 , whereby the ends are adapted to connect to the lower end seal  15  and the baseplate  50  to enclose the filter element  31  therein. 
         [0029]    The baseplate  50  is a member having an outer surface adapted to mate against a vehicle engine and receive engine oil therethrough, and an inner surface adapted to be positioned within the interior of the housing  11 . Through the baseplate is a plurality of oil inlet apertures  53  for allowing oil to flow freely into the housing  11  and through the filter element  31 . Oil pressure moves the oil through the filter element  31  and into a louvered center tube  41 , which receives the filtered oil and allows the oil to escape the filter assembly through the central aperture  55  in the baseplate  50 . The central aperture  55  acts as a return for oil to enter back into the engine for recirculation through the lubrication system. This filtration cycle is well understood in the art and the same means deployed by canister-style filters in the art. The present invention adds deconstructability to the art by providing an assembly that can be disconnected to first drain the filter assembly of oil, and then remove and replace the filter element  31 . 
         [0030]    The baseplate  50  comprises an upstanding ring  52  having a threaded outer surface. The threaded ring  52  is disposed along the inner surface of the baseplate and is adapted to threadably attach to the second end  14  of the housing  11 , which comprises interior surface threading. This allows the baseplate  50  to threadably engage the housing second end  14  and effectuate a removable attachment therebetween. Further present along the inner surface of the baseplate  50  is an upstanding member  51  that is adapted to threadably engage the center tube  41 . The upstanding member  51  is a threaded member having interior threads and an open interior forming the central aperture  55  of the baseplate. 
         [0031]    The exterior of the member  51  comprises a hexagonal or similarly faceted shape, whereby a user can obtain purchase of the baseplate  50  by this member using a socket wrench or box end wrench. This allows the user to release the baseplate  50  from an engine if the baseplate  50  has fused or is adhered thereto over a period of usage. Once the housing  11  and center tube  41  are removed, this upstanding member  51  forms a nut upon which a tool can be attached to remove the baseplate  50  from the engine if hand loosening is not sufficient to break its seal. 
         [0032]    Disposed along the outer surface of the baseplate and surrounding the oil inlet apertures  53  is a gasket  59  or seal, which is a flexible membrane that prevents leakage once the baseplate is attached to the engine. To secure the baseplate  50 , the threaded central aperture  55  engages a male threaded spigot disposed along the engine. The threaded spigot is the attachment of the oil filter and is used to support the oil filter assembly and facilitate oil flow from the filter during engine usage. 
         [0033]    Securing to the baseplate threaded member  51  is a louvered center tube  41 , which is an elongated and tubular member having a male threaded end  42 , a female threaded end, a hollow interior  43 , and a rounded and apertured sidewall  45 . The center tube  41  is mounted centrally and longitudinally through the housing  11 , and supports the filter element  31  by engaging the same through its central aperture  32 . The apertures  44  disposed along the center tube  41  allow oil that has passed through the filter element  31  to enter the tube interior  43  and be forced through the baseplate central aperture  55  and back into the engine. The oil is under pressure and the central tube  41  receives the filtered oil and prevents the same from contacting oil that has yet to be filtered within the interior of the housing  11 . 
         [0034]    The female threaded end of the center tube  41  is adapted to receive the threaded end  21  of a joining fastener  20  at one end of the assembly. The joining fastener  20  is one that is positioned through an aperture  18  in the lower end seal  15  of the assembly, wherein the fastener  20  threadably engages the center tube and can be torqued into position. This sandwiches the lower end seal  15  against the first end  13  of the housing  11  and encloses the filter element  31  within the interior thereof. 
         [0035]    The lower end seal  15  of the present invention is an end cap member that seals the first end  13  of the housing  11  and supports the fastener  20  and a filter spring  10 . The lower end seal  15  comprises a rounded surface having a ledge  16 , the ledge being insertable into the interior of the housing  11  along its first end  13 . Along the outer surface of the ledge is a gasket or seal member, which prevents oil from escaping between the ledge  16  and the housing  11  at the end of the assembly during use. The inner surface  19  of the lower end seal  15  supports a coil spring  10 , which is used to bear against the upper end of the filter element  31  and retain its position within the housing  11  as oil is forced into the assembly. Along the outer surface  17  of the lower end seal  15 , the joining fastener  20  is inserted therethrough and bears thereagainst when the assembly is joined and the filter element  31  is replaced. 
         [0036]    The filter element  31  is a replaceable member comprising a paper filter or similar material filter used to remove contaminates and particulates from engine oil. Its construction is preferably one of a corrugated  33  construction that increases its surface area relative to its circumference and length. The construction of the filter may take on many forms, wherein removable filters common in the art may be deployed using the present assembly for filtering the engine oil. The filter element comprises a central aperture  32  extending therethrough, forming a hollow interior to accept the center tube  41  therein. Finally, the filter element  31  comprise a first end  34  that bears against the baseplate  50  and a second end that bears against the coil spring  10  pressing thereagainst. 
         [0037]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a cross section view of the baseplate  50  of the present invention. As illustrated, the baseplate  50  comprises a surface  60  having a central aperture  55  and a plurality of oil inlet apertures  53  extending therethrough. The central aperture  55  acts as a conduit for filtered oil to return to the vehicle engine after being filtered. Oil inlet apertures  53  are disposed along the flat surface  60  to allow oil from the engine to enter the filter housing and be filtered by the filter element. 
         [0038]    The interior side of the baseplate  50  comprises an upstanding ring  52  having a threaded outer surface, whereby the ring  52  secures to the first end of the housing. Further disposed along the interior side of the baseplate  50  is an upstanding member  51  having a threaded interior surface  58  and an open upper  57  forming the first end of the central aperture  55 . Opposite of the baseplate along its exterior side is a second upstanding member  54  that has a female threaded interior surface such that the baseplate  50  can be secured to a male threaded spigot of a vehicle engine. The thread directions of the first upstanding member  51  and the second upstanding member  54  are preferably opposite in direction, whereby the center tube is secured by threadably attached in one direction, while the baseplate is threadably attached to the male threaded spigot in an opposite direction. Similarly, the housing threadably attaches in an opposite direction with respect to the second upstanding member  51  such that the user can remove the housing without releasing the baseplate  50 . Furthermore, the joining fastener is threaded oppositely of the second upstanding member  54  of the baseplate, whereby the user can loosen the sealing fastener to drain the oil from the filter before releasing the baseplate and the entire housing. The user can therefore release the fastener, drain the oil and replace the filter element without removing the baseplate or breaking the seal  53  between the engine and the baseplate, if desired. 
         [0039]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a cross section view of the center tube  41  of the present invention. As illustrated, the center tube  41  is an elongated member having a hollow interior  48 , a male threaded first end  42  and a female threaded second end  46 . The female threaded end  46  comprises internal threads  47  to receive the fastener, while the male threaded end  44  is secured to the baseplate. The hollowing interior  48  receives filtered oil through apertures  44  along its sidewall  45 , whereafter the oil flows through the opening  43  along the male threaded end and into the engine lubrication system. 
         [0040]    Vehicles need the oil and oil filter changed regularly to maintain optimal performance. An oil filter operates to remove contaminants from the motor oil so that the oil flows smoothly and cleaner throughout the vehicle. Clean oil maintains optimal performance of the vehicle and ensures mechanical longevity as well. A vehicle oil filter is comprised of a cylindrical shaped paper like filter that is contained within a metal frame. Each time an oil filter is changed, both the filter and the metal housing are discarded. Since oil changes are required multiple times in a calendar year this process can become expensive and wasteful. The present invention provides a new and useful oil filter assembly that has several components that are fastened together to form an enclosed canister, while providing access to the internal filter element therein such that the filter element along can be removed and discarded during an oil change. 
         [0041]    It is submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
         [0042]    Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1