Patent ID: 7303673

Claim:
A filter assembly, comprising: a housing defined by a closed end and a sidewall that defines a chamber and an open end; a filter element disposed within said chamber; a two-piece rigid unitary cover disposed in the open end of said housing, said two-piece rigid unitary cover including a first cover member and a second cover member, wherein the open end of said housing includes a radial portion that extends radially inwardly and is disposed adjacent a substantially flat axial end surface of the first cover member, wherein said second cover member is fixed to said first cover member to thereby sandwich said radial portion therebetween, wherein the first cover member includes at least one locking tang extending axially away from said substantially flat axial end surface, wherein said radial portion is disposed adjacent the substantially flat axial end surface and an outer radial surface of the at least one locking tang; and a seal disposed between the first cover member and the second cover member, wherein the seal is disposed adjacent the substantially flat axial end surface of the first cover member and an inner radial surface of the at least one locking tang, wherein said second cover member includes an outer radial surface, wherein said second cover member includes a first flange portion extending radially away from the outer radial surface and past said sidewall of said housing to define a cantilevered portion with respect to said housing, wherein the first flange portion defines an outer axial surface and an inner axial surface, wherein the inner axial surface axially engages said seal, an axial end surface of the at least one locking tang, and an axial end surface of the radial portion, wherein said second cover member includes a second flange portion extending axially away from the inner axial surface of the first flange portion proximate the cantilevered portion, wherein the second flange portion is positioned adjacent said sidewall of said housing proximate said open end.