Patent ID: 7311830

Claim:
In a filtration assembly comprising a plurality of filtration elements each having a rigid outer shell and a filtration media enclosed within said shell, said elements being coupled in end-to-end relationship and placed within a housing, the improvement comprising: first and second couplers joined with each of said elements at opposite ends, said couplers being adapted to interlock with a like coupler on an adjoining element, each of said couplers including a plurality of skis spaced symmetrically around a perimeter outer surface of said coupler, said skis defining spaces therebetween and extending outwardly away from said surface whereby said skis provide contact points for positioning said elements in said housing and reduce the surface contact area between the element and the housing, and wherein at least one of said skis presents a receptacle and wherein a keeper is provided for placement in aligned receptacles on adjoining couplers to lock adjacent elements together.