Suction filter assembly

Abstract

The filter assembly has a housing. The housing has an inner body and an outer body surrounding at least a part of the inner body. The inner body has a laterally extending base and a first side wall extending axially outward from the base by an axial length. The inner body defines a cavity. The first side wall defines a peripheral surface around the cavity. The first filter medium extends across the peripheral surface and across the cavity. The adsorbent is disposed within the cavity. The outer body includes a second side wall extending laterally outward from the first side wall and surrounding the first side wall. The second side wall extends at least 50% of the axial length of the first side wall. The outer body has a first axial end and a second axial end and a retainer portion extending laterally inward from the first axial end. The retainer portion is located axially outward from the first filter medium.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] [Related Applications] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 339,668, filed May 9, 2022, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0002] [Technical Field] The present disclosure generally relates to adsorptive filter assemblies. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to adsorptive filter assemblies for electronic device enclosures.

Background Art

[0003] In various situations, conditions are required that enable control of the moisture content in the air. Applications within electronic device enclosures, such as those containing sensitive electronic components and equipment, often require maintaining and adjusting the moisture level within the enclosure to operate stably. Inappropriate moisture levels can potentially interfere with the mechanical and electrical operation of components and equipment.

[0004] Also, it may be desirable to remove chemical contaminants such as hydrocarbons, siloxanes, silanes, organic acids, etc. from a closed environment. Chemical contaminants can potentially reduce the efficiency and lifespan of components within an electronic device enclosure. Such chemical contaminants can enter the enclosure from external sources or be generated within the enclosure during manufacturing or use. In the case of a disk drive, the contaminants can gradually damage the drive, leading to degradation of drive performance and even complete drive failure. As a result, disk drives typically have one or more filters, such as adsorptive filters, that can remove moisture and chemical contaminants from the air within the electronic device enclosure. Disk drives can also place a gas, such as helium, within the electronic device enclosure. This can help further protect the drive. Thus, as used herein, the term "air" encompasses any gaseous chemical compound, such as those that can be present within a disk drive environment.

[0005] An adsorptive filter can be used inside the housing to remove humidity and chemical contaminants from the air inside the housing. The adsorptive filter can include various types of adsorbent materials such as silica gel, activated carbon, molecular sieves, etc. The adsorptive filter can generate adsorptive filter particles, and the adsorptive filter particles can contribute to contaminants that may enter the housing.

Summary of the Invention

[0006] Some embodiments of the technology disclosed herein relate to a filter assembly having a housing. The housing has an inner body and an outer body coupled to the inner body. The inner body has a laterally extending base and a first sidewall extending axially outward from the base by an axial length. The inner body defines a cavity. The first sidewall defines a peripheral surface around the cavity. The filter assembly also includes a first filter medium extending across the peripheral surface and across the cavity. The filter assembly also includes an adsorbent material disposed within the cavity. The outer body includes a second sidewall extending laterally outward from the first sidewall and surrounding the first sidewall. The second sidewall extends for at least 50% of the axial length of the first sidewall. The outer body has a first axial end and a second axial end. The outer body also includes a retainer portion extending laterally inward from the first axial end of the second sidewall. The retainer portion is located axially outward from the first filter medium.

[0007] Additionally or alternatively, the retainer portion is a second filter medium coupled to the second sidewall and extending across the first filter medium. Additionally or alternatively, the retainer portion is an inner rim defining a central opening. In such embodiments, the inner rim extends laterally across at least a portion of the peripheral surface.

[0008] Additionally or alternatively, the inner surface of the outer body is joined to the outer surface of the inner body. Additionally or alternatively, the second axial end of the second sidewall is joined to the base. Additionally or alternatively, the first filter medium is joined to the circumferential surface. Additionally or alternatively, the first filter medium is joined to the retainer portion.

[0009] Additionally or alternatively, the adsorbent is carbon. Additionally or alternatively, the first filter medium is a microporous membrane. Additionally or alternatively, the inner body is composed of an impermeable material. Additionally or alternatively, the inner body is rigid. Additionally or alternatively, the second sidewall is composed of an impermeable material. Additionally or alternatively, the second sidewall is rigid. In some embodiments, the second sidewall is a coating on the first filter medium and the inner body.

[0010] Additionally or alternatively, the filter assembly also includes an adhesive layer coupled to the outer surface of the base. Additionally or alternatively, the base defines a diffusion channel. Additionally or alternatively, the filter assembly has an intermediate body disposed between the inner body and the outer body. The intermediate body has a laterally extending surface, and the base is axially disposed between the adsorbent and the laterally extending surface. The intermediate sidewall extends axially outward from the laterally extending surface by an axial length. The intermediate sidewall is located between the first sidewall and the second sidewall. Additionally or alternatively, the inner body is non-rigid. Additionally or alternatively, the intermediate body is rigid.

[0011] Additionally or alternatively, the second sidewall abuts the first sidewall along the length of the first sidewall. Additionally or alternatively, the second sidewall extends at least 75% of the axial length of the first sidewall. Additionally or alternatively, the second sidewall extends at least 85% of the axial length of the first sidewall. Additionally or alternatively, the second sidewall extends at least 90% of the axial length of the first sidewall. Additionally or alternatively, the second sidewall extends at least 95% of the axial length of the first sidewall. Additionally or alternatively, the second sidewall extends 100% of the axial length of the first sidewall.

[0012] Some embodiments of the technology disclosed herein relate to a method of forming a filter assembly as described in any of the above embodiments. Such a method includes forming an inner body as described above. Additionally or alternatively, the inner body has a laterally extending base. Additionally or alternatively, the inner body has a first side wall that extends axially outward from the base by an axial length. Additionally or alternatively, the base and the first side wall define a cavity. Additionally or alternatively, the first side wall has a peripheral surface around the cavity. Additionally or alternatively, the method also includes depositing an adsorbent material within the cavity. Additionally or alternatively, the method also includes disposing a first filter medium across the peripheral surface and the cavity. Additionally or alternatively, the method also includes coupling an outer body to the inner body. Additionally or alternatively, a second side wall of the outer body is disposed laterally outward from the first side wall and surrounds the first side wall. Additionally or alternatively, the second side wall extends for at least 50% of the axial length of the first side wall. Additionally or alternatively, the outer body has a first axial end and a second axial end. Additionally or alternatively, the outer body further includes a retainer portion that extends laterally inward from the first axial end of the second side wall. Additionally or alternatively, the retainer portion is disposed axially outward from the first filter medium.

[0013] Additionally or alternatively, the method also includes depositing a second filter medium across the first filter medium. Additionally or alternatively, the method also includes coupling the second filter medium to the second side wall to define the retainer portion. Additionally or alternatively, the retainer portion is an inner rim that defines a central opening. Additionally or alternatively, the inner rim extends laterally across at least a portion of the peripheral surface.

[0014] Additionally or alternatively, the method also includes joining the inner surface of the outer body to the inner surface of the inner body. Additionally or alternatively, the method also includes joining the second axial end of the second side wall to the base. Additionally or alternatively, the method also includes joining the first filter medium to the peripheral surface. Additionally or alternatively, the method also includes joining the first filter medium to the retainer portion.

[0015] Additionally or alternatively, the adsorbent is carbon. Additionally or alternatively, the first filter medium is a microporous membrane. Additionally or alternatively, the inner body is composed of an impermeable material. Additionally or alternatively, the inner body is rigid. Additionally or alternatively, the second side wall is composed of an impermeable material. Additionally or alternatively, the second side wall is rigid.

[0016] Additionally or alternatively, the method also includes the step of overmolding the second side wall onto the first filter medium and the inner body. Additionally or alternatively, the method also includes the step of bonding an adhesive layer to the outer surface of the base. Additionally or alternatively, the base defines a diffusion channel. Additionally or alternatively, the inner body is disposed within an intermediate body. The intermediate body has a laterally extending surface, and the base is axially disposed between the adsorbent and the laterally extending surface. An intermediate side wall extends axially outward from the laterally extending surface by an axial length. The intermediate side wall is located between the first side wall and the second side wall. Additionally or alternatively, the inner body is non-rigid. Additionally or alternatively, the intermediate body is rigid.

[0017] Additionally or alternatively, the second side wall abuts against the first side wall along the length of the first side wall. Additionally or alternatively, the second side wall extends at least 75% of the axial length of the first side wall. Additionally or alternatively, the second side wall extends at least 85% of the axial length of the first side wall. Additionally or alternatively, the second side wall extends at least 90% of the axial length of the first side wall. Additionally or alternatively, the second side wall extends at least 95% of the axial length of the first side wall. Additionally or alternatively, the second side wall extends 100% of the axial length of the first side wall.

[0018] The above summary is not intended to describe each embodiment or all embodiments. Rather, a more complete understanding of the exemplary embodiments will become apparent and recognized by referring to the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments and the claims in view of the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

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[0030] The present technology can be more fully understood and appreciated by considering the following detailed description of various embodiments in connection with the accompanying drawings.

[0031] The drawings are mainly drawn for clarity and as a result are not necessarily drawn to scale. Further, various structural / components, including but not limited to fasteners, electrical components (wiring, cables, etc.), etc., may be shown schematically or removed from part or all of the figures to better illustrate aspects of the illustrated embodiments or when such structural / components are not necessary for understanding the various exemplary embodiments described herein. However, the lack of illustration / description of such structural / components in a particular drawing should not be construed in any way as limiting the scope of the various embodiments.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0032] A filter assembly consistent with the technology disclosed herein can have a variety of different configurations. FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of an example of an exemplary filter assembly 100, and FIG. 2A shows a cross-sectional view of the filter assembly 100 of FIG. 1.

[0033] The filter assembly 100 is configured to be disposed within an electronic device housing. The filter assembly 100 is generally configured to remove moisture and other chemical contaminants from the electronic device housing. The filter assembly 100 is disclosed as having an inner body 108, an outer body 102, a first filter medium 104, and an adsorbent 106.

[0034] The housing 101 includes an inner body 108 and an outer body 102. The inner body 108 has a first side wall 109. The outer body 102 has a second side wall 103. Although the housing and its respective components will be described later, any material or material property described with respect to the housing 101 may apply to components of the housing 101 such as the inner body 108 and the outer body 102. In some embodiments, the housing 101 is constructed of a material that is impermeable to the flow of air passing therethrough. "Impermeable to air flow" means that the material forming the housing 101 is substantially resistant to the flow of air passing therethrough.

[0035] The housing 101 can have various configurations while maintaining compatibility with the technologies disclosed herein. In the present exemplary embodiment, the housing 101 defines part of a cylinder that defines a cavity 110. However, in some other embodiments, the housing 101 can define alternative shapes (such as a partial sphere, cube, rectangular prism, prism, pyramid, cone, etc.). In some embodiments, such as those currently depicted, the housing 101 defines only a single opening that receives fluid communication between the external environment (such as a disk drive enclosure) and the cavity 110. In various other embodiments, the housing 101 can define additional openings that receive fluid communication between the external environment and the cavity 110.

[0036] The housing 101 can be composed of various materials and combinations of materials while maintaining compatibility with the technologies disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the housing 101 is rigid. The term "rigid" can be defined as a material whose shape is self-supporting under gravity. A rigid configuration can advantageously facilitate the placement of the filter assembly 100 in an environment where the filter assembly 100 is used, such as in a disk drive. A rigid configuration can advantageously facilitate the addition of the adsorbent 106 into the cavity 110 during the manufacture of the filter assembly 100. In some embodiments, the housing 101 is composed of, by way of example, plastic, metal, or cured resin. In some embodiments, the housing 101 is composed of molded plastic. The housing 101 can be made of polycarbonate. The housing 101 can be made of nylon.

[0037] The inner body 108 has a first side wall 109 having a circumferential surface 112. The inner body 108 can include a base 107 that extends laterally. The lateral direction can be transverse to the axial direction. The inner body 108 can further include a first side wall 109 that extends axially outward from the base 107 by an axial length L. The axial length L can be, for example, 35 mm or less, 30 mm or less, or 25 mm or less. The axial length L can be, for example, 4 mm or more, 6 mm or more. For the purposes of the present disclosure, the axial length L of the first side wall 109 is the axial length of the outer surface of the inner body 108, including the (axial) thickness of the base, as illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B.

[0038] Although not currently shown, in some exemplary embodiments, the base 107 can define a ventilation port and a diffusion channel, as will be described below with reference to other embodiments. The inner body 108 can define a cavity 110 bounded by the first side wall 109 and the base 107. The first side wall 109 can define a circumferential surface 112 around the cavity 110.

[0039] The peripheral surface 112 is generally configured to be coupled to the first filter medium 104 such that the first filter medium 104 extends across the cavity 110. The peripheral surface 112 can extend laterally. The peripheral surface 112 can surround the cavity 110. The peripheral surface 112 can be located at the distal end of the first side wall 109 relative to the base 107 of the inner body 108. As used herein, the term "distal" is used to refer to a component or feature that is located relatively far from the base 107. As used herein, the term "proximal" is used to refer to a component or feature that is located relatively close to the base 107.

[0040] In some embodiments, such as those presently depicted, the inner body 108 can include a single chamber within the cavity 110. In other exemplary embodiments, the inner body 108 can include a first chamber and a second chamber within the cavity 110. For example, the first chamber and the second chamber can abut each other within the cavity 110. The first side wall 109 and the peripheral surface 112 can define the first and second chambers. In various embodiments, the first chamber and the second chamber may be separated from each other by a partition wall extending across the cavity. Such a configuration can advantageously allow two or more adsorbents to be disposed within the filter assembly 100 while limiting physical or chemical interactions between the adsorbents.

[0041] The housing 101 (and in the exemplary embodiment, more specifically, the inner body 108) and the first filter medium 104 mutually define a cavity 110 therebetween. The first filter medium 104 abuts against the cavity 110 to enable fluid communication between the cavity 110 and the external environment of the filter assembly 100. In some embodiments, the first filter medium 104 can be coupled to the inner body 108. The first filter medium 104 can be coupled to the circumferential surface 112. In some embodiments, the first filter medium 104 includes a peripheral region 115, and the peripheral region 115 can be coupled to the circumferential surface 112. The first filter medium 104 and the circumferential surface 112 can be coupled by welding such as an adhesive, ultrasonic welding, or thermal welding.

[0042] The first filter medium 104 is configured to receive fluid communication including water vapor and chemical contaminants. The first filter medium 104 can be made of various different materials and combinations of materials. The first filter medium 104 can be vapor permeable such that vapor passes through the filter assembly 100 and is captured by the adsorbent 106. The first filter medium 104 can be configured to impede the flow of liquid water therethrough. In some but not all embodiments, the first filter medium 104 is substantially impermeable to liquid water under normal operating conditions. The first filter medium 104 can be a microporous membrane, where the term "microporous" is intended to mean that the membrane defines pores having an average pore diameter of 0.001 to 5.0 microns. The first filter medium 104 can define a pore diameter in the range of 0.05 to 5.0 microns, 0.2 to 4.0 microns, or 0.5 to 3.0 microns. In one example, the first filter medium 104 has an average pore diameter of 1.5 microns. In one example, the first filter medium 104 has a maximum pore diameter of 3.0 microns.

[0043] In some embodiments, the first filter medium 104 can have less than 50% solidity and more than 50% porosity. The first filter medium 104 can have a plurality of nodes interconnected by fibrils. In many embodiments, the first filter medium 104 is an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane. As another example, the first filter medium 104 can additionally or alternatively be composed of polyamide, polyethylene terephthalate, acrylic, polyethersulfone, and / or polyethylene.

[0044] The first filter medium 104 can be a laminate or composite material including a microporous membrane such as a PTFE layer laminated to a woven or non-woven support layer. In some embodiments, the first filter medium 104 can have a microporous membrane bonded to a scrim layer. In some embodiments, the first filter medium 104 can have three layers such as a microporous membrane layer located between two scrim layers. In some other embodiments, the first filter medium 104 can have three layers, in which case a single scrim layer is laminated between two microporous membrane layers. The scrim layer is generally configured to increase the strength and / or stiffness of the membrane. In one embodiment, the scrim layer is polyester. The scrim layer can also be other materials, as well as combinations of materials such as PE, PET, and polypropylene. For example, a PTFE layer can be laminated to a non-woven polyester layer. In some embodiments, the first filter medium 104 is a fibrous filter material with or without a support scrim layer.

[0045] The cavity 110 is configured to receive the adsorbent 106. The first filter medium 104 is coupled to the inner body 108 across the cavity 110, isolating the cavity and thus the adsorbent 106 from the environment external to the filter assembly 100.

[0046] The adsorbent 106 is generally configured to adsorb chemical contaminants from the cavity 110. The adsorbent 106 is disposed between the first filter medium 104 and the inner body 108. In an exemplary embodiment, the adsorbent 106 is generally configured to adsorb chemical contaminants from the external environment that flow into the cavity 110. The adsorbent 106 can be a physisorbent or chemisorbent material, such as, for example, a desiccant (i.e., a material that adsorbs moisture or water vapor), or a material that adsorbs or reacts with volatile organic compounds, acid gases, or both. Suitable adsorbents include, for example, activated carbon, activated alumina, molecular sieves, silica gel, potassium permanganate, calcium carbonate, potassium carbonate, sodium carbonate, calcium sulfate, or mixtures thereof. In some embodiments, activated alumina is blended with activated carbon. In embodiments where the cavity has multiple chambers, a first adsorbent can be disposed within the first chamber and a second, different adsorbent can be disposed within the second chamber.

[0047] The adsorbent 106 can have various structures, not limited to beads, particles, tablets, etc. The adsorbent 106 can have substantially unbonded constituents, or these constituents can be bonded by a binder to itself or to another material, such as a support scrim. The adsorbent 106 is configured to be disposed within the cavity 110 of the inner body 108. The cavity 110 and the adsorbent 106 are sized such that the adsorbent 106 fits completely within the cavity 110.

[0048] The adsorbent 106 may not be joined to both the inner body 108 and the first filter medium 104. The filter assembly 100 may lack an adhesive between the adsorbent 106 and the first filter medium 104. The filter assembly 100 may lack an adhesive between the adsorbent 106 and the inner body 108. Omitting the adhesive from the cavity 110 may advantageously allow the cavity 110 to accommodate more adsorbent as compared to an example where the adhesive is disposed within the cavity 110. Omitting the adhesive from the adsorbent 106 may advantageously maximize the surface area of the adsorbent available for filtration. Omitting the adhesive may advantageously reduce or eliminate gas emissions that may otherwise occur using some types of adhesives. In other exemplary embodiments, an adhesive may be used to join the adsorbent 106 to the inner body 108. The adhesive may advantageously hold the adsorbent 106, for example, and reduce leakage of particles from the adsorbent 106.

[0049] In various implementations, by inserting the adsorbent 106 into the cavity 110 during the manufacturing process, free particles may be released from the adsorbent 106 and deposited within and around the inner body 108. As described above, the first filter medium 104 may advantageously contain such free particles that may deposit within the cavity 110 and on the peripheral surface 112. In various embodiments, the outer body 102 is generally configured to hold such free particles from the adsorbent 106 so that such free particles do not escape into the external environment. Such a configuration may advantageously prevent free particles deposited on a portion of the outer surface 113 of the inner body 108 from being released into the operating environment of the filter assembly 100. As described above, the first filter medium 104 may be coupled to the peripheral surface 112, and in some embodiments, the first filter medium 104 includes a peripheral region 115 that may be coupled to the peripheral surface 112. In such embodiments, the first filter medium 104 may also function to contain free particles from the adsorbent 106 that may have deposited on the peripheral surface 112.

[0050] The outer body 102 generally has a second side wall 103 and a retainer portion 114. The outer body 102, together with the inner body 108, forms a part of the housing 101. The outer body 102 includes a second side wall 103 that is laterally outward from the first side wall 109. Thus, the outer body 102 surrounds the first side wall 109. The material used to construct the outer body 102 and the material properties of the outer body 102 generally correspond to the above description regarding the housing 101.

[0051] The second side wall 103 extends for at least 50% of the axial length L of the first side wall 109. The outer body 102 has a first axial end 102a and a second axial end 102b. The first axial end 102a is located at an end that is relatively distal with respect to the base 107 of the inner body 108. The second axial end 102b is located at an end that is relatively proximal with respect to the base 107 of the inner body 108. The second axial end 102b can abut the base 107 in some embodiments, although other configurations described below are also possible. The second side wall 103 can extend axially toward the base 107 to the proximal end of the base 107, where the "proximal end of the base" is defined as the exterior lateral surface of the base 107 such that the second side wall 103 laterally surrounds the first side wall 109 and the base 107. In some such embodiments, the second side wall 103 is disposed laterally outward from the first side wall 109 and the base 107. The base may include a lip 117, and in some such embodiments, the second side wall 103 is located laterally outward from the first side wall 109 and the base 107. The base may include a lip 117, and in such an embodiment, the second side wall 103 is located laterally outward from the first side wall 109, the base 107, and the lip 117. Such a configuration is shown in FIG. 2B and is consistent with FIG. 2A except that the second side wall 103 has a proximal end 102b having a lateral extension 102a that abuts the side surface of the lip 117 and an axial extension 105b that abuts the outer axial surface of the base 107 (which is also the outer axial surface of the lip 117 in this embodiment). Returning to FIGS. 1 and 2A, in the filter assembly 100 where the outer body 102 is a separate component distinct from the inner body 108, the outer body 102 can be placed on top of the inner body 108 during the assembly process.

[0052] The inner body 108 and the outer body 102 are generally joined to prevent the release of free particles held between the inner body 108 and the outer body 102. Such a configuration can advantageously keep the outer surface of the filter assembly 100 relatively clean and prevent fine particles from being released into the electronic equipment housing in which the filter assembly 100 is disposed. In an exemplary embodiment, the inner body 108 can be coupled to the outer body 102, for example, by joining the inner surface of the outer body 102 to the outer surface 113 of the inner body 108 around the outer periphery of the inner body 108.

[0053] The outer body 102 and the inner body 108 can be joined using various methods known to those skilled in the art. In an exemplary embodiment, the second sidewall 103 can be a coating on the first filter medium 104 and the inner body 108. In other exemplary embodiments, the second sidewall 103 forms an interference fit with the first sidewall 109. In other exemplary embodiments, the outer body 102 forms a snap fit with the inner body 108. In other exemplary embodiments, the second sidewall 103 and the first sidewall 109 are joined by welding such as adhesives, ultrasonic welding, or thermal welding. In an exemplary embodiment, the adhesive layer can be joined to the lip 117 of the base 107 such that the second axial end 102b of the outer body 102 adheres to the adhesive layer of the base 107. The welding of the outer body 102 and the inner body 108 can include welds that can be placed at any point where the outer body 102 and the inner body 108 are in contact or adjacent and accessible for welding. This can occur along the axial length L of the first sidewall 109, on the base 107, along the retainer portion 114, or at any other location. Further, the joint between the outer body 102 and the inner body 108 can be continuous around the inner body 108. This can advantageously eliminate open paths that are not joined and that could potentially allow particles to escape to the external environment. In some other embodiments, such a joint can be, for example, a discontinuous point along the inner body 108. In some embodiments, the first sidewall 109 and the second sidewall 103 are joined through an overmolding process, which will be described below with reference to other examples. Other methods of joining the inner body 108 / first sidewall 109 and the outer body 102 / second sidewall 103 known to those skilled in the art can be used.

[0054] As described above, the second sidewall 103 is generally configured to hold fine particles between the first sidewall 109 and the second sidewall 103. Such a configuration can advantageously prevent such particulate matter from escaping into the external environment. In an exemplary embodiment where the filter assembly 100 is inserted into an electronic device housing, the second sidewall 103 can advantageously protect important components of the electronic device from such fine particles. Generally, the second sidewall 103 holds or covers at least a portion of the outer surface 113 of the first sidewall 109. In an exemplary embodiment, the second sidewall 103 completely surrounds the first sidewall 109.

[0055] In an exemplary embodiment, the second sidewall 103 can extend at least 50% of the axial length L of the first sidewall 109. In other exemplary embodiments, the second sidewall 103 can extend at least 25% of the axial length L of the first sidewall 109. In other exemplary embodiments, the second sidewall 103 can extend at least 15% of the axial length L of the first sidewall 109. In other exemplary embodiments, the second sidewall 103 can extend at least 60%, 70% or 75% of the axial length L of the first sidewall 109. In other exemplary embodiments, the second sidewall 103 can extend at least 80% of the axial length L of the first sidewall 109. In other exemplary embodiments, the second sidewall 103 can extend at least 85%, 90% or 95% of the axial length L of the first sidewall 109. As the second sidewall 103 extends to the outer surface 113, the lip 117 (FIG. 1) and the base 107 of the first sidewall 109 as described above, the second sidewall 103 can extend 100% of the axial length L of the first sidewall 109.

[0056] As described above, the first filter medium 104 can be a fibrous or non-fibrous filter material with or without a support scrim layer. Over time, the first filter medium 104 deteriorates, resulting in the shedding of fine particles and the loosening of fibers, and there is a possibility that the first filter medium 104 may protrude outward from around the peripheral region 115 of the first filter medium 104, especially. The outer body, particularly the second side wall 103 and the retainer portion 114, can advantageously prevent fine particles from the first filter medium 104 from escaping into the external environment.

[0057] The outer body 102 has a retainer portion 114 located axially outward from the first filter medium 104. In some embodiments, the retainer portion 114 is generally configured to hold the first filter medium 104 on the inner body 108. The retainer portion 114 extends laterally inward from the first axial end 102a of the second side wall 103. In some embodiments, the retainer portion 114 can hold the first filter medium 104, which can hold the absorbent material 106 within the inner body 108. The retainer portion can define a central opening 111 that enables diffusive fluid communication between the cavity 110 and the environment of the electronic device housing through the first filter medium 104. In an exemplary embodiment, the retainer portion 114 can extend laterally inward such that the central opening 111 has a cross-dimension (such as diameter or diagonal) of, for example, 25 mm or less, 10 mm or less, or 15 mm or less. In some exemplary embodiments, the central opening 111 has a cross-dimension of, for example, 5 mm or more, 10 mm or more, or 15 mm or more. In an exemplary embodiment, the central opening 111 has a flow area of, for example, 800 mm 2 (square millimeters) or less, 400 mm 2 or less, or 200 mm 2 or less. In an exemplary embodiment, the central opening 111 has a flow area of, for example, 20 mm 2 or more, 50 mm 2 or more, or 100 mm 2 or more.

[0058] In some embodiments, including the illustrated one, the retainer portion 114 can include an inner rim 116 that extends laterally across at least a portion of the circumferential surface 112. In some embodiments, including the illustrated one, the retainer portion 114 extends laterally across the entire circumferential surface 112. The inner rim 116 can extend 2 mm to 6 mm laterally inward from the second side wall 103. In some embodiments, the inner rim 116 does not extend more than 5 mm, 4 mm, or 3 mm laterally inward beyond the inner boundary of the circumferential surface 112. The peripheral region 115 of the first filter medium 104 can be axially disposed between the retainer portion 114 and the circumferential surface 112. In some embodiments, the retainer portion 114 and the inner rim 116 can compress the peripheral region 115 of the first filter medium 104. This can advantageously hold the position of the first filter medium 104. The inner rim 116 can define a central opening 111.

[0059] In some embodiments, the first filter medium 104 can be coupled to the retainer portion 114 such that the first filter medium 104 extends across the central opening 111. The first filter medium 104 can be coupled to, for example, the retainer portion 114, or the circumferential surface 112, or both the retainer portion 114 and the circumferential surface 112. The first filter medium 104 and the retainer portion 114 can be coupled by an adhesive, welding such as ultrasonic welding or thermal welding, etc. In some embodiments, the retainer portion 114 and the first filter medium 104 are coupled through an overmolding process.

[0060] The first filter medium 104 is axially spaced apart from the adsorbent 106 and can form a headspace. In other exemplary embodiments (not shown), the first filter medium 104 can abut the adsorbent 106.

[0061] In some embodiments, the filter assembly 100 can be coupled or attached to an electronic device housing. Coupling the filter assembly 100 to the electronic device housing can include forming a contact between an adhesive layer coupled to the outer surface of the base 107 and the electronic device housing.

[0062] During the manufacture and assembly of the filter assembly 100, various techniques can be used to clean the components of the filter assembly 100 in order to remove particulates and provide a relatively "clean" filter assembly 100 for installation within the electronic device housing. Such cleaning techniques can include, for example, spray cleaning or air purging. Various cleaning or washing techniques can be used to remove at least a portion of the particulates deposited on the outer surfaces of the components assembled to form the filter assembly 100. For example, during manufacture and assembly, cleaning may be performed before the filter assembly 100 is fully manufactured. Further, for example, the outer side of the inner body 108 may be cleaned during manufacture, and then the outer side of the outer body 102 may be cleaned in a later step.

[0063] Filter assemblies consistent with the techniques disclosed herein can have a variety of different configurations, and FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate another such configuration. FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of an example of an exemplary filter assembly 200, and FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the filter assembly 200 of FIG. 3. Each reference numeral of this embodiment corresponding to a similar reference numeral of the embodiments of FIGS. 1-2 also corresponds to a similar element. For example, the first filter medium 104 and the first filter medium 204a. The differences between the embodiments will be described below.

[0064] The filter assembly 200 is configured to be disposed within an electronic device housing. The filter assembly 200 is generally configured to remove humidity and other chemical contaminants from the electronic device housing. The filter assembly 200 is disclosed as having an inner body 208, a cover 218, an outer body 202, a first filter medium 204a, and an adsorbent 206.

[0065] The housing and its respective components will be described later, but any of the materials or material properties described with respect to housing 201 may apply to components of housing 201 such as inner body 208 and outer body 202. In some embodiments, housing 201 is composed of a material that is impermeable to the flow of air passing therethrough, as described with respect to FIGS. 1-2.

[0066] As shown in FIGS. 3-4, the shape of filter assembly 200 is cylindrical. Further, base 207 defines one or more openings configured for use during manufacturing and / or for installing filter assembly 200 within its intended operating environment.

[0067] Housing 201 can have various configurations while maintaining compatibility with the technology disclosed herein. In the present exemplary embodiment, housing 201 defines a portion of a cylinder that defines cavity 210. However, in some other embodiments, housing 201 can define alternative shapes (e.g., partial sphere, cube, rectangular prism, prism, pyramid, cone, etc.). In some embodiments such as those currently depicted, housing 201 defines two or more openings that receive fluid communication between the external environment (e.g., a disk drive enclosure) and cavity 210. In various other embodiments, housing 201 can define only one opening that receives fluid communication between the external environment and cavity 210.

[0068] As described above in connection with FIGS. 1-2, housing 201 can be composed of various materials and combinations of materials while maintaining compatibility with the technology disclosed herein.

[0069] The housing 201 includes an inner body 208, a cover 218, and an outer body 202. The inner body 208 has a first side wall 209. The outer body 202 has a second side wall 203. The cover 218 can be coupled to the base 207 to temporarily or permanently seal one or more openings. In some embodiments, the cover 218 has an adhesive layer coupled thereto. As shown in FIGS. 3-4, in a more specific embodiment, the cover 218 has a double-sided adhesive layer 220 and a release liner 222. The double-sided adhesive layer 220 is configured to adhere the filter assembly 200 to the operating environment. The release liner 222 is configured to be removed from the double-sided adhesive layer 220 before installing the filter assembly in the intended operating environment.

[0070] The inner body 208 has a first side wall 209 having a circumferential surface 212. The inner body 208 can include a laterally extending base 207. The inner body 208 can further include a first side wall 209 that axially extends axially outward from the base 207 by an axial length L, where the possible axial length can be consistent with the above discussion. The lateral direction can be transverse to the axial direction. The inner body 208 can define a cavity 210 bounded by the first side wall 209 and the base 207. The first side wall 209 can define a circumferential surface 212 around the cavity 210.

[0071] In an exemplary embodiment, the base 207 can define at least one diffusion channel 228. The at least one diffusion channel 228 can extend through the base 207 and form a through-hole. The at least one diffusion channel 228 can enable air, vapor, or other materials to diffuse, for example, into the cavity 210. Thus, the diffusion channel 228 enables fluid communication between the external environment and the filter as described above. In such an embodiment, the double-sided adhesive layer 220 can define at least one breather port 230. The at least one breather port 230 can be aligned with the at least one diffusion channel 228 to enable the above-described fluid communication. The at least one breather port 230 can abut against the at least one diffusion channel 228. The above-described release liner 222 can extend across the breather port 230 and seal the breather port 230 until the filter assembly 200 is installed in the electronic device housing.

[0072] The circumferential surface 212 is generally configured to be coupled to the first filter medium 204a such that the first filter medium 204a extends across the cavity 210. The circumferential surface 212 can be transverse to the axial direction. The circumferential surface 212 can surround the cavity 210. The circumferential surface 212 can be located at an end relatively distal to the base 207 of the inner body 208.

[0073] In some embodiments such as those currently depicted, the inner body 208 can include a single chamber or a plurality of chambers within the cavity 210, as described above with respect to FIGS. 1-2.

[0074] The housing 201 (and in the exemplary embodiment, more specifically, the inner body 208) and the first filter medium 204a mutually define a cavity 210 therebetween. The first filter medium 204a abuts the cavity 210 to enable fluid communication between the cavity 210 and the external environment of the filter assembly 200. In some embodiments, the first filter medium 204a can be coupled to the inner body 208. The first filter medium 204a can be coupled to the circumferential surface 212. In some embodiments, the first filter medium 204a includes a peripheral region 215, and the peripheral region 215 can be coupled to the circumferential surface 212. The first filter medium 204a and the circumferential surface 212 can be coupled by welding such as an adhesive, ultrasonic welding, or thermal welding.

[0075] The first filter medium 204a is configured to receive a fluid flow therethrough, including water vapor and chemical contaminants. The first filter medium 204a can be of various different materials and combinations of materials, as described above with respect to FIGS. 1-2.

[0076] The cavity 210 is configured to receive the adsorbent 206. The first filter medium 204a is coupled to the inner body 208 across the cavity 210 to isolate the cavity, and thus the adsorbent 206, from the external environment of the filter assembly 200.

[0077] The adsorbent 206 is generally configured to adsorb chemical contaminants from the cavity 210. The adsorbent 206 is disposed between the first filter medium 204a and the inner body 208. In an exemplary embodiment, the adsorbent 206 is generally configured to adsorb chemical contaminants from the external environment flowing into the cavity 210. The adsorbent 206 can be of the materials as described above with respect to FIGS. 1-2. In some particular embodiments, the adsorbent 206 is silica gel or a molecular sieve. In embodiments where the cavity 210 has a plurality of chambers, a first adsorbent can be disposed in the first chamber and a second different adsorbent can be disposed in the second chamber.

[0078] The adsorbent 206 is not limited to beads, particles, tablets, etc., and can have various structures. In the exemplary embodiments shown in FIGS. 3 to 4, the adsorbent 206 has a bead structure. The adsorbent 206 is configured to be disposed within the cavity 210 of the inner body 208. The cavity 210 and the adsorbent 206 are sized such that the adsorbent 206 fits completely within the cavity 210.

[0079] The adsorbent 206 may not be joined to both the inner body 208 and the first filter medium 204a. The filter assembly 200 can lack an adhesive between the adsorbent 206 and the first filter medium 204a. In other exemplary embodiments, an adhesive can be used to join the adsorbent 206 to the inner body 208. Such possible uses and possible advantages and disadvantages of the adhesive have been described above with respect to FIGS. 1 to 2.

[0080] Similar to the description of FIGS. 1 to 2, the outer body 202 is generally configured to hold free particles derived from the adsorbent 206 that have deposited on a portion of the outer surface 213 of the first side wall 209 of the inner body 208 during the manufacturing process, so that such particles do not escape into the external environment. As described above, the first filter medium 204a can be joined to the peripheral surface 212, and in some embodiments, the first filter medium 204a includes a peripheral region 215 that can be joined to the peripheral surface 212. In such embodiments, the first filter medium 204a can also function to contain free particles from the adsorbent 206 that may be deposited on the peripheral surface 212.

[0081] The outer body 202 generally has a second sidewall 203. The outer body 202, together with the inner body 208, forms part of the housing 201. The outer body 202 includes a second sidewall 203 that is laterally outward from the first sidewall 209. Thus, the outer body 202 surrounds the first sidewall 209. In an alternative embodiment, the second sidewall 203 can extend axially toward the base 207 to the proximal end of the base 207 such that the second sidewall 203 laterally surrounds the first sidewall 209 and the base 207. In some such embodiments, the second sidewall 203 is laterally outward from the first sidewall 209 and the base 207. The base may include a lip 217, and in some such embodiments, the second sidewall 203 is laterally outward from the first sidewall 209, the base 207, and the lip 217. The material and material properties of the second sidewall 203 generally correspond to the above description of the housing 201 in some embodiments.

[0082] The second sidewall 203 can define an inner rim 223. The inner rim 223 is generally configured to be coupled to the second filter medium 204b such that the second filter medium 204b extends across the central opening 211. The inner rim 223 can extend laterally with respect to the axial direction. In some embodiments, the second filter medium 204b includes a second peripheral region 216, and the second peripheral region 216 can be coupled to the inner rim 223 by an adhesive, welding, etc. The inner rim 223 can surround the central opening 211. The inner rim 223 can be disposed at or near the distal end of the second sidewall 203. Unlike the previous example, in this example, the inner rim is set slightly inward from the distal end of the outer body 202. The inner rim 223 extends laterally inward and defines a central opening 211 that can have dimensions consistent with the description of the inner rim disclosed above. In some embodiments, the second peripheral region 216 of the second filter medium 204b can be located on the outer surface of the inner rim 223. In some other embodiments, the second peripheral region 216 of the second filter medium 204b can be located on the inner surface of the inner rim 223.

[0083] The outer body 202 has a second side wall 203 that extends at least 50% of the axial length L of the first side wall 209. The outer body 202 has a first axial end 202a and a second axial end 202b. The first axial end 202a is located at an end that is distal relative to the base 207 of the inner body 208. The second axial end 202b is located at an end that is proximal relative to the base 207 of the inner body 208. The second axial end 202b can abut the base 207 of the inner body 208 in some embodiments, although other configurations described below are also possible. In the filter assembly 200 where the outer body 202 is a separate component distinct from the inner body 208, the outer body 202 can be placed on top of the inner body 208 during the assembly process.

[0084] The inner body 208 and the outer body 202 are generally coupled to prevent the release of free particles held between the inner body 208 and the outer body 202. In an exemplary embodiment, the inner body 208 can be coupled to the outer body 202, for example, by joining the inner surface of the outer body 202 to the outer surface of the inner body 208 around the periphery of the inner body 208. In another example, the second axial end 202b of the second side wall 203 is joined to the base 207. In an exemplary embodiment, an adhesive layer can be coupled to the lip 217 of the base 207 such that the second axial end 202b of the outer body 202 adheres to the adhesive layer of the base 207. Various methods known to those skilled in the art and described above with respect to FIGS. 1 - 2 can be used to couple the outer body 202 and the inner body 208.

[0085] Also, as described above, the second side wall 203 is generally configured to hold fine particles between the first side wall and the second side wall. Generally, the second side wall 203 holds or covers at least a part of the outer surface 213 of the first side wall 209. In an exemplary embodiment, the second side wall 203 completely surrounds the first side wall 209. In an exemplary embodiment, the second side wall 203 can extend over at least 50% of the axial length L of the first side wall 209, but the second side wall 203 can extend over other axial lengths of the first side wall 209 as described above. In the present embodiment, the second side wall 203 extends from 85% to 100% of the axial length L of the first side wall 209.

[0086] In the present embodiment, the outer body has a retainer portion 214 having an alternative structure to the retainer portion described above with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2. More specifically, in the present embodiment, the retainer portion 214 is the second filter medium 204b and the inner rim 223. In an alternative embodiment, the retainer portion 214 is only the inner rim 223. The outer body, particularly the second side wall 203 and the inner rim 223, can advantageously prevent fine particles released from the first filter medium 204a and the adsorbent 206 from escaping into the external environment.

[0087] The retainer portion 214 can be disposed axially outward from the first filter medium 204a. In some embodiments, the retainer portion 214 is generally configured to hold particles within the outer body 202. The retainer portion 214 extends radially inward from the first axial end 202a of the second side wall 203. The retainer portion 214 can enable diffusive fluid communication between the cavity 210 and the environment of the electronic device housing via the second filter medium 204b. As described above, here, the retainer portion includes the second filter medium 204b. The second filter medium 204b can be coupled to the second side wall 203 and can extend across the central opening 211. More specifically, the second filter medium 204b is coupled to the inner rim 223. The inner rim 223 is a ledge defined by the first axial end 202a of the second side wall 203. As described above, the second filter medium 204b can be joined to the second side wall 203, and more specifically to the inner rim 223 of the outer body 202, using an adhesive, welding such as ultrasonic welding or thermal welding.

[0088] In some embodiments, the second filter medium 204b includes a second peripheral region 216, and the second peripheral region 216 can be coupled to the inner rim 223 as described above. The second filter medium 204b can be made of various different materials and combinations of materials as described above with respect to the first filter medium 104 of FIGS. 1-2.

[0089] The filter assembly 200 has a second adsorbent 224. The second adsorbent 224 is generally configured to adsorb chemical contaminants. The second adsorbent 224 can be made of a material (such as an activated carbon tablet) that is less likely to release hard particles than the first adsorbent. Thus, the second adsorbent 224 can be less likely to generate fine particles that could leak from the filter and damage other components within the electronic device housing. In alternative embodiments, the second adsorbent 224 can be made of a material as described above with respect to the adsorbents 106 and 206 of FIGS. 1-4.

[0090] Similar to the above discussion regarding the first adsorbent, the second adsorbent 224 is not limited to beads, particles, tablets, etc., and can have various structures. The structure of the second adsorbent 224 can include one or more structures that promote the air flow between the first filter medium 204a and the second filter medium 204b. The second adsorbent 224 can be, for example, perforated, can have a bead structure, or can include embossments. In some exemplary embodiments, the second adsorbent 224 can include through-holes that enable fluid communication between the first filter medium 204a and the second filter medium 204b.

[0091] In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3-4, the second adsorbent 224 has a tablet structure. The second adsorbent 224 is disposed between the first filter medium 204a and the second filter medium 204b. The second adsorbent 224 is disposed axially outward from the first filter medium. The second adsorbent 224 is in contact with the first filter medium 204a. In this embodiment, the second adsorbent 224 is disposed axially spaced from the second filter medium 204b. In other embodiments, the second adsorbent 224 can be in contact with the second filter medium 204b. The second adsorbent 224 is not or can be joined to the first filter medium 204a and / or the second filter medium 204b. In some examples, the second adsorbent 224 is between the circumferential surface 212 (and thus the first filter medium 204a) and the inner rim 223. In some embodiments, the second adsorbent 224 can be compressed between the circumferential surface 212 and the inner rim 223.

[0092] FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of an example of yet another exemplary filter assembly 300, and FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the filter assembly 300 of FIG. 5. The filter assembly 300 is configured to be disposed within an electronic device housing. The filter assembly 300 is generally configured to remove humidity and other chemical contaminants from the electronic device housing. The filter assembly 300 is disclosed as having an inner body 308, an outer body 302, a first filter medium 304, and an adsorbent 306.

[0093] The housing 301 can have various configurations while maintaining compatibility with the technology disclosed herein. In the present exemplary embodiment, the housing 301 has an irregular shape, such as an asymmetric prism, that defines a cavity 310. The housing 301 can define the alternative shapes described above. The presently depicted housing 301 defines a single cavity 310, although in some other embodiments, the housing 301 defines two or more cavities. In some embodiments, such as the presently depicted one, the housing 301 defines an opening 311 that receives fluid communication between the external environment (e.g., a disk drive housing) and the cavity 310. In various other embodiments, the housing 301 can define two or more openings that receive fluid communication between the external environment and the cavity 310.

[0094] The housing 301 includes an inner body 308 and an outer body 302. The inner body 208 and the outer body 302 can be constructed of the materials described with respect to the above embodiments. The inner body 308 has a first sidewall 309 that surrounds the cavity 310. The outer body 302 has a second sidewall 303 that surrounds the cavity 310. The inner body 308 can include a laterally extending base 307. The inner body 308 can further include a first sidewall 309 that extends axially outward from the base 307 by an axial length L, where the axial length can be consistent with the above discussion. The inner body 308 can define a cavity 310 bounded by the first sidewall 309 and the base 307.

[0095] The first side wall 309 can have a peripheral surface 312 around the cavity 310. The peripheral surface 312 is generally configured to be coupled to the peripheral region 315 of the first filter medium 304 such that the first filter medium 304 extends across the cavity 310. The peripheral surface 312 can be transverse to the axial direction. The peripheral surface 312 can surround the cavity 310. Different from the above-described embodiment where the peripheral surface is located at the distal end of the inner body, here, the peripheral surface 312 is offset from the distal end of the inner body 308. However, the peripheral surface 312 is still located towards the distal end of the inner body 308.

[0096] The housing 301 (and in the exemplary embodiment, more specifically the inner body 308) and the first filter medium 304 mutually define a cavity 310 therebetween. The first filter medium 304 abuts the cavity 310 to enable fluid communication between the cavity 310 and the external environment of the filter assembly 300. In some embodiments, the first filter medium 304 can be coupled to the inner body 308. The first filter medium 304 can be coupled to the peripheral surface 312. In some embodiments, the first filter medium 304 includes a peripheral region 315 and the peripheral region 315 can be coupled to the peripheral surface 312. The first filter medium 304 and the peripheral surface 312 can be coupled by welding such as an adhesive, ultrasonic welding, or thermal welding.

[0097] The cavity 310 is configured to receive the adsorbent 306. The first filter medium 304 is coupled to the inner body 308 across the cavity 310, isolating the cavity, and thus the adsorbent 306, from the environment external to the filter assembly 300. The first filter medium 304 can be of various different materials and combinations of materials as described above with respect to FIGS. 1-2. The adsorbent 306 is disposed between the first filter medium 304 and the inner body 308. The adsorbent 306 can be of a material as described above with respect to FIGS. 1-2. In embodiments where the cavity 310 has multiple chambers, a first adsorbent can be disposed in the first chamber and a second, different adsorbent can be disposed in the second chamber. The adsorbent 306 can be configured to correspond to the adsorbent described in detail above.

[0098] The outer body 302 includes a second side wall 303 that is laterally outward from the first side wall 309. Thus, the outer body 302 laterally surrounds a portion of the first side wall 309. In alternative embodiments, the second side wall 303 laterally surrounds the first side wall 309 and the base 307. In some such embodiments, the second side wall 303 is disposed laterally outward from the first side wall 309 and the base 307. The base can include a lip 317 that extends laterally outward from the base and laterally outward from the first side wall. In some such embodiments, the second side wall 303 is disposed laterally outward from the first side wall 309, the base 307, and the lip 317.

[0099] The outer body 302 has a first axial end 302a and a second axial end 302b. The first axial end 302a is located at an end that is relatively distal with respect to the base 307 of the inner body 308. The second axial end 302b is located at an end that is relatively proximal with respect to the base 307 of the inner body 308. The second axial end 302b can abut the base 307 of the inner body 308 in some embodiments, although other configurations are possible as described below. The inner body 308 and the outer body 302 can be coupled in a manner consistent with the discussion elsewhere in this specification.

[0100] Generally, the second sidewall 303 holds or covers at least a portion of the outer surface 313 of the first sidewall 309. In an exemplary embodiment, the second sidewall 303 completely surrounds the first sidewall 309. In an exemplary embodiment, the second sidewall 303 can extend at least 50% of the axial length L of the first sidewall 309, or other ranges described above. In the illustrated example, the second sidewall 303 extends from 95% to 99% of the axial length L of the first sidewall 309. Although not shown, in some embodiments, the second sidewall 303 is disposed laterally outward from the first sidewall 309, the base 307, and the lip 317 such that the second sidewall 303 extends 100% of the axial length L of the first sidewall 309.

[0101] The retainer portion 314 generally conforms to the retainer portion described above, except for the differences described herein or seen in the drawings. The retainer portion 314 is located axially outward from the first filter medium 304. The retainer portion 314 extends radially inward from the first axial end 302a of the second sidewall 303. Unlike some previous examples, in this embodiment, the retainer portion 314 is not a filter medium or an inner rim as described in previous examples. Rather, in this example, the retainer portion 314 is a radially extending surface that extends across a majority of the lateral region of the distal end of the cavity 310. The retainer portion 314 can extend across at least 70%, 75%, 80%, and up to 100% of the lateral region of the distal end of the cavity 310. The retainer portion 314 can be a single component that is in close contact with the second sidewall 303, but in other embodiments, the retainer portion 314 can be a separate component coupled to the second sidewall 303.

[0102] The first filter medium 304 is axially disposed between the retainer portion 314 and the peripheral surface 312. More specifically, the peripheral region 315 of the first filter medium 304 is axially disposed between the retainer portion 314 and the peripheral surface 312. In the present embodiment, the filter medium 304 is directly coupled to the peripheral surface 312 of the inner body 308 and is axially spaced from the retainer portion 314. In the present embodiment, the retainer portion 314 defines an opening 311. Unlike the above-described embodiment in which the retainer portion defines a central opening, the present embodiment includes an opening 311 that is not necessarily located at the center of the retainer portion 314. The retainer portion 314 enables diffusive fluid communication between the cavity 310 and the environment of the electronic device housing through the first filter medium 304 and through the opening 311 of the outer body 302.

[0103] The presently depicted filter assembly 300 has an inlet filter 334 that can operate, for example, as an additional filter between an external environment and a disk drive. The inlet filter 334 can operate as a filter during the manufacture and assembly of the filter assembly 300 and during the use of the filter assembly 300 disposed within the disk drive. The inlet filter 334 can be selectively in fluid communication with the opening 311. An exemplary inlet filter 334 is described in U.S. Patent No. 10,134,447B2.

[0104] FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of an example of yet another exemplary filter assembly 400 during a manufacturing stage, including cross-sectional views of exemplary molded and adsorptive filter assemblies consistent with various embodiments.

[0105] The filter assembly 400 is disclosed as having an inner body 408, an outer body 402, a first filter medium 404, and an adsorbent 406. The housing 401 includes the inner body 408 and the outer body 402. The inner body 408 has a first side wall 409. The outer body 402 has a second side wall 403. The housing 401 can have various configurations consistent with this embodiment, such as a cylindrical shape, a prismatic shape, an irregular shape, or other shapes described above. The housing 401 defines a cavity 410. In this example, the housing 401 defines at least one diffusion channel 428 that receives fluid communication between the external environment and the cavity 410. The housing 401 can be constructed of various materials and combinations of materials while maintaining consistency with the technology disclosed herein, as described above with respect to FIGS. 1-2.

[0106] The inner body 408 has a first side wall 409 having a circumferential surface 412. The inner body 408 has a base 407 that extends laterally. The first side wall 409 extends axially outward from the base 407 by an axial length L, where the possible axial length can be consistent with the above description. The inner body 408 can define a cavity 410 bounded by the first side wall 409 and the base 407. The first side wall 409 can define a circumferential surface 412 around the cavity 410. The circumferential surface 412 surrounds the cavity 410. The circumferential surface 412 can be located at the distal end of the inner body 408. The inner body 408 has a single chamber of the cavity 410 that is visible, although in some embodiments, the cavity 410 can have a plurality of chambers as described above.

[0107] The inner body 408 and the first filter medium 404 mutually define a cavity 410 therebetween. The first filter medium 404 abuts against the cavity 410 to enable fluid communication between the cavity 410 and the external environment of the filter assembly 400. The first filter medium 404 is coupled to the inner body 408. The first filter medium 404 has a peripheral region 415 coupled to the peripheral surface 412. The first filter medium 404 can be of various different materials and combinations of materials as described above.

[0108] The cavity 410 is configured to receive the adsorbent 406. The first filter medium 404 is coupled to the inner body 408 across the cavity 410, isolating the cavity, and thus the adsorbent 406, from the environment external to the filter assembly 400. The adsorbent 406 can be a material described elsewhere in this specification.

[0109] In this embodiment, the base 407 defines at least one diffusion channel 428. The diffusion channel 428 extends through the base 407 to form a tortuous flow path for fluid communication between the external environment and the cavity 410. The diffusion channel 428 can enable, for example, air, vapor, or other materials to move through the diffusion channel 428 and enter the cavity 410.

[0110] The outer body 402 is generally configured to hold free particles deposited on a portion of the outer surface 413 of the first sidewall 409 of the inner body 408, and such particles do not escape into the external environment. The outer body 402 generally has a second sidewall 403 and a retainer portion 414. The outer body 402 includes a second sidewall 403 that is laterally outward from the first sidewall 409. Thus, the outer body 402 surrounds at least a portion of the axial length of the first sidewall 409. In an alternative embodiment, the second sidewall 403 laterally surrounds the first sidewall 409 and the base 407. In some such embodiments, the second sidewall 403 is disposed laterally outward from the first sidewall 409 and the base 407. In an alternative embodiment where the base includes a lip as described above, as described above, the second sidewall 403 can be disposed laterally outward from the first sidewall 409, the base 407, and the lip. The material and material properties of the second sidewall 403 generally conform to the above description.

[0111] The outer body 402 has a first axial end 402a and a second axial end 402b. The first axial end 402a is located at the distal end of the inner body 408. The second axial end 402b is located toward the proximal end of the inner body 408.

[0112] Similar to the above-described embodiments, the second sidewall 403 holds or covers at least a portion of the outer surface 413 of the first sidewall 409. In an exemplary embodiment, the second sidewall 403 completely surrounds the first sidewall 409 laterally. The second sidewall 403 extends over at least 50% of the axial length L of the first sidewall 409. In other exemplary embodiments, the second sidewall 403 can extend over 100% of the axial length L of the first sidewall 409. In this example, the second sidewall 403 extends over at least 60%, 70%, or 80% of the axial length L of the first sidewall 409.

[0113] The outer body 402 has a retainer portion 414 that is axially outward of the first filter medium 404. In this embodiment, the retainer portion 414 is configured to hold the first filter medium 404 on the inner body 408. The retainer portion 414 extends laterally inward from the first axial end 402a of the second side wall 403. The retainer portion 414 can define a central opening 411 that allows for diffusive fluid communication between the cavity 410 and the environment of the electronic device housing through the first filter medium 404. In an exemplary embodiment, the retainer portion 414 can extend laterally inward as described above. The retainer portion 414 is an inner rim that extends laterally across at least a portion of the peripheral surface 412. The peripheral region 415 of the first filter medium 404 is axially disposed between the retainer portion 414 and the peripheral surface 412.

[0114] In some embodiments, the first filter medium 404 can be joined to the retainer portion 414 such that the first filter medium 404 extends across the central opening 411. The first filter medium 404 can be coupled, for example, to the retainer portion 414, or to the peripheral surface 412, or to both the retainer portion 414 and the peripheral surface 412. In this embodiment, the retainer portion 414 and the first filter medium 404 are joined by an overmolding process. In some embodiments, the first filter medium 404 can also be coupled to the peripheral surface 412, for example, by an adhesive or welding.

[0115] In this embodiment, the second sidewall 403 is a coating on the first filter medium 404 and the inner body 408 formed through an overmolding process. FIG. 7 further shows an exemplary mold that can be used to overmold the outer body 402 onto the inner body 408. The first mold 409a and the second mold 403a are generally configured to position the inner body 408, the adsorbent 406, and the first filter medium 404 for the overmolding process. The first mold 409a and the second mold 403a are generally configured to define the size, shape, and position of the outer body 402 relative to the inner body and the first filter medium 404. The first mold 409a and the second mold 403a can be made of any material suitable for use in the overmolding process, such as a metal (e.g., aluminum). The first mold 409a and the second mold 403a can form any suitable mold shape for the outer body 402. The third mold 446 can also be used to position the inner body 408, the adsorbent 406, and the first filter medium 404. In this embodiment, the third mold 446 is configured to prevent contact between a portion of the first filter medium 404 and the molding material. The third mold 446 can be, for example, spring-loaded. The third mold 446 can be any material suitable for use in the overmolding process, such as the materials described above with respect to the first mold 409a and the second mold 403a. The third mold 446 can advantageously stabilize the first filter medium 404 of the filter assembly 400 on the first sidewall 409 for the overmolding process.

[0116] The material injection site 444 can provide a path for the uncured or unfrozen material to be injected into the cavity (one or more) formed by the first, second, and third molds (409a, 403a, and 446 respectively). Thereby, the material can fill the mold cavity to form the second side wall 403 and the retainer portion 414, and finally form the outer body 402. Then, the material can be cured or solidified to form the outer body 402 as a solid. The material used can be any material suitable for the overmolding process, such as a thermoplastic material such as polycarbonate, polyethylene, acrylic, or resin. The material can further be any of the materials described above with respect to the housing 401 (for example, the material can be impermeable to fluid communication). When the material is cured or solidified, the first mold 409a, the second mold 403a, and the third mold 446 can be removed, leaving the filter assembly 400.

[0117] FIG. 8 shows an exploded view of an example of yet another exemplary filter assembly 500, and FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of the filter assembly 500 of FIG. 8. The filter assembly 500 is configured to be disposed within an electronic device housing. The filter assembly 500 generally conforms to the filter assembly described above unless otherwise specified or shown in the drawings. The filter assembly 500 has an inner body 508, an outer body 502, a first filter medium 504, and an adsorbent 506, each of which generally conforms to the above description unless otherwise specifically described herein and / or shown in the drawings.

[0118] The housing 501 has a cavity 510 and a suction material 506 disposed within the cavity. The housing 501 defines a central opening 511 that receives fluid communication between the external environment (e.g., a disk drive housing) and the cavity 510. In this embodiment, the inner body 508 has a laterally extending base 507 and a first side wall 509 that extends axially outward from the base 507 (FIG. 9) by an axial length L. The inner body 508 defines a cavity 510 bounded by the first side wall 509 and the base 507. In this embodiment, the cavity 510 is a single chamber, although in some other embodiments, the cavity 510 can have multiple chambers.

[0119] The first side wall 509 defines a peripheral surface 512 around the cavity 510. The peripheral surface 512 can be oriented laterally with respect to the axial direction. The peripheral surface 512 is disposed toward the distal end of the inner body 508. Different from some of the previous embodiments shown, here, the peripheral surface 512 is defined by a flange on the distal end of the first side wall.

[0120] The first filter medium 504 is coupled to the peripheral surface 512 such that the first filter medium 504 extends across the cavity 510. Thus, the inner body 508 and the first filter medium 504 mutually define the cavity 510 therebetween. The first filter medium 504 is coupled to the peripheral surface 512 and abuts the cavity 510. In particular, the first filter medium 504 has a peripheral region 515, and the peripheral region 515 is coupled to the peripheral surface 512. The first filter medium 504 and the peripheral surface 512 can be coupled by the approach described above.

[0121] Unlike some previous embodiments, in this embodiment, the inner body 508 can be composed of a non-rigid material such as a relatively thin film. The inner body 508 can be, for example, a flexible pouch. In such an example, the peripheral surface 512 can be a melted region where the first filter medium 504 and the peripheral surface 512 are thermally welded or ultrasonically welded. In such an example, when the inner body 508 is composed of a relatively thin flexible film, the inner body 508 can conform to the shape of the adsorbent 506 contained therein. The adsorbent 506 can be consistent with the adsorbents described above. In some implementations of this example, the adsorbent 506 is a tablet.

[0122] The outer body 502 has a first axial end and a second axial end, and a second side wall 503. The second side wall 503 is located laterally outward from the first side wall 509. The second side wall surrounds the first side wall 509 and extends at least 50% of the axial length of the first side wall 509. In this example, the second side wall 503 extends at least 95%, 97% or 99% of the axial length L of the first side wall 509. More specifically, the second side wall 503 extends 100% of the axial length L of the first side wall 509 such that the second side wall 503 laterally surrounds the first side wall 509 and the base 507. In some embodiments, the base may include the lip shown in the previous embodiments, and the second side wall 503 can be located laterally outward from the first side wall 509, the base 507 and the lip.

[0123] The first axial end 502a is located at the distal end of the inner body 508. The second axial end 502b is located towards the proximal end of the inner body 508. In this example, the second axial end 502b of the outer body 502 does not abut against the base 507 of the inner body 508. In the filter assembly 500 where the outer body 502 is a separate component from the inner body 508, the outer body 502 can be placed on top of the inner body 508 during the assembly process.

[0124] The retainer portion 514 can have functionality consistent with the above description. The retainer portion 514 is located axially outward from the first filter medium 504. The retainer portion 514 extends laterally inward from the first axial end 502a of the second side wall 503. In this embodiment, the retainer portion 514 is the inner rim as described in the previous embodiments.

[0125] The first filter medium 504 is axially disposed between the retainer portion 514 and the circumferential surface 512. More specifically, the peripheral region 515 of the first filter medium 504 can be axially disposed between the retainer portion 514 and the circumferential surface 512. In this embodiment, the filter medium 504 is directly coupled to the circumferential surface of the inner body 508 and is axially spaced from the retainer portion 514. However, in some other embodiments, the retainer portion 514 can compress the peripheral region 515 of the first filter medium 504.

[0126] In this embodiment, the filter assembly 500 has an intermediate body 520 disposed between the inner body 508 and the outer body 502. The intermediate body 520 has a laterally extending surface 522 and an intermediate side wall 524 extending axially outward from the laterally extending surface 522. The intermediate side wall 524 is axially positioned between the first side wall 509 and the second side wall 503. The laterally extending surface 522 is axially disposed outward from the base 507 such that the base 507 is axially disposed between the adsorbent 506 and the laterally extending surface 522. The intermediate side wall 524 has an axial length A extending from the laterally extending surface 522 to the distal end 526. The second side wall 503 laterally surrounds the intermediate side wall 524, and the second side wall 503 extends at least partially along the axial length A of the intermediate side wall 524, where the axial length A of the intermediate side wall 524 includes the axial height of the laterally extending surface 522.

[0127] In this embodiment, the outer body 502 is directly coupled to the intermediate body 520. In particular, the second end 50b of the second sidewall 503 is welded to a laterally extending lip 528 of the intermediate body 520. The first filter medium 504 is axially disposed between the retainer portion 514 and the first end 502a of the second sidewall 503. More particularly, the peripheral region 515 of the first filter medium 504 is axially disposed between the retainer portion 514 and the first end 502a of the second sidewall 503. In some embodiments, the retainer portion 514 and the first end 502a of the second sidewall 503 can compress at least a portion of the peripheral region 515 of the first filter medium 504 and the peripheral surface 512 of the inner body 508.

[0128] In this embodiment, the laterally extending surface 522 defines a hole 532 for selective fluid communication between the external environment and the cavity 510. The cover 518 is coupled to the laterally extending surface 522 to temporarily or permanently seal the hole 532. In some embodiments, the cover 518 has an adhesive layer 519 coupled to the cover, such as a double-sided adhesive layer for coupling the filter assembly 500 to the housing. The cover 518 also has a release liner 517 configured to be removed from the double-sided adhesive layer 519 to mount the filter assembly 500 within the intended operating environment. In this embodiment, the adhesive layer 519 defines the holes 532 with each other.

[0129] Embodiments consistent with this design can further limit the negative effects of particulates on the electronic device housing by further including free particulates on the outer surface of the filter assembly 500. For assembling the filter assembly 500, the adsorbent 506 can be disposed within the inner body 508, and the first filter medium 504 can be coupled to the inner body 508 to define a liquid seal around the adsorbent 506. The inner body 508 can be cleaned with liquid or air pressure to remove at least a portion of the free particles that may be present on the outer surface of the inner body 508. After cleaning, the inner body 508 having the adsorbent 506 and the first filter medium 504 can be inserted into the intermediate body 520. In some embodiments, the outer surface 513 of the intermediate body 520 can also be cleaned. Next, the outer body 502 can be placed over the assembled inner body 508 and intermediate body 520 and coupled to the intermediate body 520.

[0130] FIG. 10 is a flowchart of one exemplary method of forming an adsorptive filter assembly consistent with various embodiments. The flowchart may correspond to a method 600 used to construct a filter assembly consistent with the techniques disclosed herein. The method 600 of forming a filter assembly according to an exemplary embodiment can include forming an inner body 650, depositing an adsorbent within a cavity 652, disposing a first filter medium across a peripheral surface and the cavity 654, and coupling an outer body to the inner body 656.

[0131] In some exemplary embodiments, forming the inner body can include forming the inner body as described above using any method generally known to those skilled in the art. The inner body can have a base, a first side wall, an axial length, a cavity, and a peripheral surface, as described above. Each of these features can have a configuration consistent with the above-described embodiments. Forming the inner body can include injection molding, machining, vacuum forming, engraving, and the like. Method 600 can further include joining a first filter medium to the peripheral surface, as described above. Each of these features can have a configuration consistent with the above-described embodiments.

[0132] In some exemplary embodiments, depositing the adsorbent 652 within the cavity can include depositing the adsorbent within the cavity using any method generally known to those skilled in the art. For example, adsorbent beads can be injected into the cavity. In another example, a formed adsorbent tablet can be manually or automatically placed within the cavity. The adsorbent can correspond to the adsorbents described elsewhere above.

[0133] Placing the first filter medium 654 across the peripheral surface and the cavity can be done using any method generally known to those skilled in the art. In some embodiments, the first filter medium is joined to the peripheral surface using an adhesive or welding. In some embodiments, the first filter medium is placed across the peripheral surface and the cavity between mold components, such as mold components within an overmolding system. The first filter medium, the parametric surface, and the cavity can have a configuration consistent with the corresponding components described above.

[0134] Some exemplary embodiments can include an outer body, a second sidewall, a first axial end, a second axial end, a retainer portion, an inner rim, and a central opening, each of which is described in detail above. In some exemplary embodiments, coupling the outer body to the inner body 656 can include coupling the outer body to the inner body using any method generally known to those skilled in the art. For example, the outer body can be coupled to the inner body 656 using welding or an adhesive. Method 600 can include joining the inner surface of the outer body to the outer surface of the inner body, as described above. Method 600 can additionally or alternatively include joining the second axial end of the second sidewall to the base, as described above. Such joining can include the use of an adhesive layer, as described above. In some exemplary embodiments, coupling the outer body to the inner body can be performed by overmolding the second sidewall onto the first filter medium and the inner body, as described above. In some such embodiments, the outer body is overmolded onto the first filter medium and the inner body. Method 600 can further include joining the first filter medium to the retainer portion, as described above. Each of these features can have a configuration consistent with the embodiments described above.

[0135] Some exemplary embodiments can include a second filter medium, as described above. Method 600 can further include depositing the second filter medium over the first filter medium. In such embodiments, the second filter medium can be coupled to the second sidewall, as described above. The second filter medium can define the retainer portion of the outer body, as described above with respect to FIGS. 3-4.

[0136] [Description of Embodiments] Embodiment 1. A filter assembly, A housing comprising an inner body and an outer body surrounding at least a part of the inner body, wherein the inner body has a base extending in the lateral direction and a first side wall extending axially outward from the base by an axial length, the inner body defines a cavity, and the first side wall defines a peripheral surface around the cavity, the housing, A first filter medium extending across the peripheral surface and across the cavity, An adsorbent material disposed within the cavity, Comprising, The outer body includes a second side wall extending laterally outward from the first side wall and surrounding the first side wall, the second side wall extends over at least 50% of the axial length of the first side wall, the outer body has a first axial end and a second axial end, the outer body further includes a retainer portion extending laterally inward from the first axial end of the second side wall, and the retainer portion is located axially outward from the first filter medium, Filter assembly.

[0137] Embodiment 2. The retainer portion comprises a second filter medium coupled to the second side wall and extending across the first filter medium. The filter assembly according to any one of Embodiments 1 and 3 to 14.

[0138] Embodiment 3. The retainer portion is an inner rim defining a central opening, and the inner rim extends laterally across at least a part of the peripheral surface. The filter assembly according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 2 and 4 to 25.

[0139] Embodiment 4. The inner surface of the outer body is joined to the outer surface of the inner body. The filter assembly according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 3 and 5 to 25.

[0140] Embodiment 5. The second axial end of the second side wall is joined to the base. The filter assembly according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 4 and 6 to 25.

[0141] Embodiment 6. The first filter medium is joined to the peripheral surface. The filter assembly according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 5 and 7 to 25.

[0142] Embodiment 7. The first filter medium is coupled to the retainer portion. The filter assembly according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 6 and 8 to 25.

[0143] Embodiment 8. The adsorbent is carbon. The filter assembly according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 7 and 9 to 25.

[0144] Embodiment 9. The first filter medium is a microporous membrane. The filter assembly according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 8 and 10 to 25.

[0145] Embodiment 10. The inner body is made of an impermeable material. The filter assembly according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 9 and 11 to 25.

[0146] Embodiment 11. The inner body is rigid. The filter assembly according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 10 and 12 to 25.

[0147] Embodiment 12. The second side wall is made of an impermeable material. The filter assembly according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 11 and 13 to 25.

[0148] Embodiment 13. The second side wall is rigid. The filter assembly according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 12 and 14 to 25.

[0149] Embodiment 14. The second side wall is a coating on the first filter medium and the inner body. The filter assembly according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 13 and 15 to 25.

[0150] Embodiment 15. Further comprising an adhesive layer coupled to the outer surface of the base. The filter assembly according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 14 and 16 to 25.

[0151] Embodiment 16. The base defines a diffusion channel. The filter assembly according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 15 and 17 to 25.

[0152] Embodiment 17. Further includes an intermediate body disposed between the inner body and the outer body, and the intermediate body has a laterally extending surface, and the base is axially disposed between the adsorbent and the laterally extending surface, the laterally extending surface, and an intermediate side wall extending axially outward from the laterally extending surface by an axial length, and the intermediate side wall is located between the first side wall and the second side wall. The filter assembly according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 16 and 18 to 25.

[0153] Embodiment 18. The inner body is non-rigid. The filter assembly according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 17 and 19 to 25.

[0154] Embodiment 19. The intermediate body is rigid. The filter assembly according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 18 and 20 to 25.

[0155] Embodiment 20. The second side wall abuts against the first side wall along the length of the first side wall. The filter assembly according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 19 and 21 to 25.

[0156] Embodiment 21. The second side wall extends at least 75% of the axial length of the first side wall. The filter assembly according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 20 and 22 to 25.

[0157] Embodiment 22. The second side wall extends at least 85% of the axial length of the first side wall. The filter assembly according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 21 and 23 to 25.

[0158] Embodiment 23. The second side wall extends over at least 90% of the axial length of the first side wall. The filter assembly according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 22 and 24 to 25.

[0159] Embodiment 24. The second side wall extends over at least 95% of the axial length of the first side wall. The filter assembly according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 23 and 25.

[0160] Embodiment 25. The second side wall extends over 100% of the axial length of the first side wall. The filter assembly according to any one of Embodiments 1 to 24.

[0161] Embodiment 26. A method of forming a filter assembly, forming an inner body having a laterally extending base and a first side wall extending axially outward from the base by an axial length, wherein the base and the first side wall define a cavity and the first side wall has a peripheral surface around the cavity. depositing an adsorbent material in the cavity, disposing a first filter medium over the peripheral surface and the cavity, disposing an outer body over the inner body such that a second side wall of the outer body is laterally outward of the first side wall and surrounds the first side wall, wherein the second side wall extends over at least 50% of the axial length of the first side wall, the outer body has a first axial end and a second axial end, the outer body further comprises a retainer portion extending laterally inward from the first axial end of the second side wall, and the retainer portion is axially outward of the first filter medium. A method comprising.

[0162] Embodiment 27. Depositing a second filter medium over the first filter medium and coupling the second filter medium to the second side wall to define a retainer portion. The method according to any one of Embodiments 26 and 28 to 50, further comprising.

[0163] Embodiment 28. The retainer part is an inner rim that defines a central opening, and the inner rim extends laterally over at least a part of the circumferential surface. The method according to any one of Embodiments 26 - 21 and 29 - 50, further comprising.

[0164] Embodiment 29. The step of joining the inner surface of the outer body to the outer surface of the inner body. The method according to any one of Embodiments 26 - 22 and 30 - 50, further comprising.

[0165] Embodiment 30. The step of joining the second axial end of the second side wall to the base. The method according to any one of Embodiments 26 - 23 and 31 - 50, further comprising.

[0166] Embodiment 31. The step of joining the first filter medium to the circumferential surface. The method according to any one of Embodiments 26 - 24 and 32 - 50, further comprising.

[0167] Embodiment 32. The step of coupling the first filter medium to the retainer part. The method according to any one of Embodiments 26 - 25 and 33 - 50, further comprising.

[0168] Embodiment 33. The adsorbent is carbon. The method according to any one of Embodiments 26 - 26 and 34 - 50.

[0169] Embodiment 34. The first filter medium is a microporous membrane. The method according to any one of Embodiments 26 - 27 and 35 - 50.

[0170] Embodiment 35. The inner body is composed of an impermeable material. The method according to any one of Embodiments 26 - 28 and 36 - 50.

[0171] Embodiment 36. The inner body is rigid. The method according to any one of Embodiments 26 to 29 and 37 to 50.

[0172] Embodiment 37. The second side wall is made of an impermeable material. The method according to any one of Embodiments 26 to 50 and 38 to 50.

[0173] Embodiment 38. The second side wall is rigid. The method according to any one of Embodiments 26 to 31 and 39 to 50.

[0174] Embodiment 39. The step of overmolding the second side wall onto the first filter medium and the inner body. The method according to any one of Embodiments 26 to 32 and 40 to 50, further comprising.

[0175] Embodiment 40. The step of bonding an adhesive layer to the outer surface of the base. The method according to any one of Embodiments 26 to 33 and 41 to 50, further comprising.

[0176] Embodiment 41. The base defines a diffusion channel. The method according to any one of Embodiments 26 to 34 and 42 to 50.

[0177] Embodiment 42. The method further includes the step of disposing the inner body within the intermediate body, and the intermediate body includes: A laterally extending surface, wherein the base is axially disposed between the adsorbent and the laterally extending surface, and the laterally extending surface; An intermediate side wall extending axially outward from the laterally extending surface by an axial length, and the intermediate side wall is located between the first side wall and the second side wall. The method according to any one of Embodiments 26 to 35 and 43 to 50.

[0178] Embodiment 43. The inner body is non-rigid. The method according to any one of Embodiments 26 to 36 and 44 to 50.

[0179] Embodiment 44. The intermediate body is rigid. The method according to any one of Embodiments 26 to 43 and 45 to 50.

[0180] Embodiment 45. The second side wall abuts against the first side wall along the length of the first side wall. The method according to any one of Embodiments 26 to 44 and 46 to 50.

[0181] Embodiment 46. The second side wall extends at least 75% of the axial length of the first side wall. The method according to any one of Embodiments 26 to 45 and 47 to 50.

[0182] Embodiment 47. The second side wall extends at least 85% of the axial length of the first side wall. The method according to any one of Embodiments 26 to 46 and 48 to 50.

[0183] Embodiment 48. The second side wall extends at least 90% of the axial length of the first side wall. The method according to any one of Embodiments 26 to 47 and 49 to 50.

[0184] Embodiment 49. The second side wall extends at least 95% of the axial length of the first side wall. The method according to any one of Embodiments 26 to 48 and 50.

[0185] Embodiment 50. The second side wall extends 100% of the axial length of the first side wall. The method according to any one of Embodiments 26 to 49.

[0186] It should also be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the phrase "configured to" describes a system, apparatus, or other structure that is constructed to perform a particular task or adopt a particular configuration. The term "configured to" can be used interchangeably with similar terms such as "arranged to", "constructed to", "manufactured to", etc.

[0187] All publications and patent applications cited in this specification are indicative of the ordinary skill in the art to which this technology pertains. All publications and patent applications are incorporated herein by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated by reference. In the event of any conflict between the disclosure of this application and the disclosure of any document incorporated herein by reference, the disclosure of this application shall govern.

[0188] This application is intended to cover adaptations or variations of the present subject matter. It is intended that the foregoing description be illustrative rather than limiting, and it will be understood that the claims are not limited to the exemplary embodiments described herein.

Claims

1. A filter assembly, A housing comprising an inner body and an outer body surrounding at least a portion of the inner body, wherein the inner body has a laterally extending base and a first side wall extending axially outward by an axial length from the base, the inner body defines a cavity, and the first side wall defines the circumferential surface around the cavity, A first filter medium extending across the circumferential surface and across the cavity, The adsorbent material placed in the cavity, Equipped with, The outer body comprises a second side wall extending laterally outward from the first side wall and surrounding the first side wall, the second side wall extending at least 50% of the axial length of the first side wall, the outer body having a first axial end and a second axial end, and the outer body further comprises a retainer portion extending laterally inward from the first axial end of the second side wall, the retainer portion being located axially outward from the first filter medium, Filter assembly.

2. The retainer portion comprises a second filter medium coupled to the second side wall and extending across the first filter medium. The filter assembly according to claim 1.

3. The retainer portion is an inner rim defining the central opening, and the inner rim extends laterally over at least a portion of the circumferential surface. The filter assembly according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The first filter medium is bonded to the circumferential surface. The filter assembly according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The first filter medium is joined to the retainer portion, The filter assembly according to claim 1 or 2.

6. The inner body is made of an impermeable material. The filter assembly according to claim 1 or 2.

7. The inner body is rigid. The filter assembly according to claim 1 or 2.

8. The second side wall is made of an impermeable material. The filter assembly according to claim 1 or 2.

9. The second side wall is rigid. The filter assembly according to claim 1 or 2.

10. The second side wall is the coating on the first filter medium and the inner body. The filter assembly according to claim 1 or 2.

11. The aforementioned base defines the diffusion channel. The filter assembly according to claim 1 or 2.

12. The system further comprises an intermediate body disposed between the inner body and the outer body, the intermediate body being A surface extending laterally, wherein the base is positioned axially between the adsorbent and the surface extending laterally, An intermediate side wall extending axially outward by a length corresponding to the axial length from the aforementioned laterally extending surface, located between the first side wall and the second side wall, A filter assembly according to claim 1 or 2, comprising:

13. The second side wall abuts against the first side wall along the length of the first side wall, The filter assembly according to claim 1 or 2.

14. The second side wall extends at least 75% of the axial length of the first side wall. The filter assembly according to claim 1 or 2.

15. A method for forming a filter assembly, A step of forming an inner body having a base extending laterally and a first side wall extending axially outward from the base by an axial length, wherein the base and the first side wall define a cavity, and the first side wall has a circumferential surface around the cavity, The steps include depositing an adsorbent material in the cavity, The steps include: arranging the first filter medium across the circumferential surface and the cavity; A step of arranging an outer body on an inner body such that the second side wall of the outer body is located laterally outward from the first side wall and surrounds the first side wall, wherein the second side wall extends for at least 50% of the axial length of the first side wall, the outer body has a first axial end and a second axial end, and the outer body further comprises a retainer portion extending laterally inward from the first axial end of the second side wall, the retainer portion being located axially outward from the first filter medium, Methods that include...

16. The steps include depositing the second filter medium over the first filter medium, and bonding the second filter medium to the second side wall to define the retainer portion, The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

17. The retainer portion is an inner rim defining the central opening, and the inner rim extends laterally over at least a portion of the circumferential surface. The method according to claim 15 or 16.

18. The step of overmolding the second side wall onto the first filter medium and the inner body, The method according to claim 15 or 16, further comprising:

19. The process further includes the step of placing the inner body inside the intermediate body, wherein the intermediate body is A surface extending laterally, wherein the base is positioned axially between the adsorbent and the surface extending laterally, An intermediate side wall extending axially outward by a length corresponding to the axial length from the aforementioned laterally extending surface, located between the first side wall and the second side wall, The method according to claim 15 or 16, comprising:

20. The second side wall extends at least 75% of the axial length of the first side wall. The method according to claim 15 or 16.

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