Patent ID: 7060184

Claim:
A filter apparatus comprising: a housing defining an interior region and a quick-drain outlet, and a filter element positioned in the interior region to filter a flow of fluid through the interior region, the filter element comprising (i) an end cap comprising an outwardly facing surface and (ii) a quick-drain valve member secured to the outwardly facing surface to block a flow of fluid from the interior region through the quick-drain outlet when the filter element is positioned in the interior region and to allow a flow of fluid from the interior region through the quick-drain outlet when the filter element is removed from the interior region, wherein the quick-drain valve member comprises a post and a an elastomeric flow blocker, the post is secured to the outwardly facing surface, and the flow blocker is secured to the post so as to define an axial end of the quick-drain valve member distal from the outwardly facing surface and to axially engage the housing to block a flow of fluid from the interior region through the quick-drain outlet when the filter element is positioned in the interior region and to axially disengage the housing to allow a flow of fluid from the interior region through the quick-drain outlet when the filter element is removed from the interior region, the post comprises (i) a body secured to the outwardly facing surface, (ii) a head having a diameter less than a diameter of the body, and (iii) a neck interconnecting the body and the head, the neck having a diameter less than the diameters of the body and the head, the body, the head, and the neck cooperate to define an annular groove, the neck defines a channel extending through the neck, and the flow blocker surrounds the head and the neck and extends into the annular groove and through the channel to mount the flow blocker to the post.