Patent ID: 8303808

Claim:
A fuel filter assembly comprising: a housing having an interior, an inlet port and an outlet port; a filter member positioned in said interior of said housing; a cage member positioned in said interior of said housing, said cage member being positioned adjacent to said inlet port of said housing; a stopper member positioned in said cage member; a biasing member positioned in said cage member, said biasing member being coupled to said stopper member such that said biasing member urges said stopper member into contact with said housing around said inlet port whereby fluid flow through said inlet port is prevented while said stopper member contacts said housing around said inlet port, wherein said biasing member is compacted by fluid flow pressure to permit fluid flow into said housing through said inlet port; said cage member having a planar lip portion, said planar lip portion having a central opening; said cage member having circumferential wall extending from said central opening; a plurality of openings in said circumferential wall for permitting fluid flow out of said cage member through said openings when fluid flows through said inlet port into said cage member; and said circumferential wall of said cage member is constructed of an elastomeric material and has an unexpanded diameter less than a diameter of said stopper member whereby said circumferential wall snugly receives said stopper member.