Filter Apparatus

Abstract

A filter apparatus includes a first housing having a wall defining a first cavity, a first end and a second end; a removable lid configured to be coupled to the first end of the first housing; a cap removably coupled to the removable lid such that a second cavity is defined between a portion of the cap and a portion of the removable lid; and a second housing having a wall defining a third cavity, a first end and a second end, where the second housing is disposed inside the first cavity, and where the first end is configured to be removably coupled to the removable lid independently from the first housing.

The following is claimed: 
     
         1 . A filter apparatus, comprising:
 a first housing having a wall defining a first cavity, a first end and a second end;   a removable lid configured to be coupled to the first end of the first housing;   a cap removably coupled to the removable lid such that a second cavity is defined between a portion of the cap and a portion of the removable lid; and   a second housing having a wall defining a third cavity, a first end and a second end, wherein the second housing is disposed inside the first cavity, and wherein the first end is configured to be removably coupled to the removable lid independently from the first housing.   
     
     
         2 . The filter apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the removable lid, having an outer end surface and an inner end surface, further comprises:
 an outer annular wall extending away from the periphery of the inner end surface, wherein the outer annular wall is configured to engage the first end of the first housing; and   an inner annular wall extending away from the inner end surface, wherein the inner annular wall is configured to engage a first end of the wall of the second housing.   
     
     
         3 . The filter apparatus of  claim 1 , the removable lid further comprising:
 an upper annular wall extending away from the outer end surface of the removable lid; and   a perforated portion of the outer end surface of the removable lid, defined within the upper annular wall, and corresponding to a perforated portion of the inner end surface, defined within the inner annular wall.   
     
     
         4 . The filter apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the cap, having an outer end surface and an inner end surface, further comprises:
 an annular wall extending way from the inner end surface of the cap, wherein the annular wall of the cap is configured to engage the upper annular wall of the removable lid; and   a hollow protrusion, extending away from the outer surface of the cap, wherein an aperture in the hollow protrusion extends to the second cavity.   
     
     
         5 . The filter apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first housing further comprises:
 an opening in the first end; and   a bottom plate disposed at the second end, the bottom plate having at least one aperture.   
     
     
         6 . The filter apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the second housing further comprises:
 an opening in the first end;   a bottom plate disposed at the second end; and   at least one aperture in the wall defining the third cavity.   
     
     
         7 . The filter apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a filter is disposed within at least one of the first cavity, the second cavity, and the third cavity. 
     
     
         8 . The filter apparatus of  claim 7 , having a first filter disposed within the second cavity and a second filter disposed within the third cavity. 
     
     
         9 . The filter apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the first filter is of the same filter type as the second filter. 
     
     
         10 . The filter apparatus of  claim 1 , having processing media disposed within the first cavity. 
     
     
         11 . The filter apparatus of  claim 10 , the processing media comprising at least one of a filter, an odorizer, and a deodorizer. 
     
     
         12 . A filter system comprising:
 a first housing coupled to a removable lid;   a first filter disposed within a first cavity defined between a portion of a cap and a portion of the removable lid;   a second filter disposed within a second cavity defined within a second housing disposed within the first housing and removably coupled to the removable lid independently of the first housing.   
     
     
         13 . The filter system of  claim 12 , further comprising processing media disposed within a third cavity, wherein the third cavity is defined between a portion of the first housing and a portion of the removable lid. 
     
     
         14 . The filter system of  claim 12 , the first housing having a wall defining the third cavity, a first end and a second end, wherein the removable lid is configured to be coupled to the first end of the first housing. 
     
     
         15 . The filter system of  claim 14 , the removable lid further comprising:
 an outer end surface;   an inner end surface;   an outer annular wall extending away from the periphery of the inner end surface, wherein the outer annular wall is configured to engage the first end of the first housing; and   an inner annular wall extending away from the inner end surface, wherein the inner annular wall is configured to engage a first end of the wall of the second housing.   
     
     
         16 . The filter system of  claim 12 , the removable lid further comprising:
 an upper annular wall extending away from the outer end surface of the removable lid; and   a perforated portion of the outer end surface of the removable lid, defined within the upper annular wall, and corresponding to a perforated portion of the inner end surface, defined within the inner annular wall.   
     
     
         17 . The filter system of  claim 16 , the cap comprising:
 an outer end surface;   an inner end surface;   an annular wall extending away from the inner end surface of the cap, wherein the annular wall of the cap is configured to engage the upper annular wall of the removable lid; and   a hollow protrusion, extending away from the outer surface of the cap, wherein an aperture in the hollow protrusion extends to the first cavity.   
     
     
         18 . The filter system of  claim 12 , the first housing further comprising:
 an opening in the first end; and   a bottom plate disposed at the second end, the bottom plate having at least one aperture defined therethrough.   
     
     
         19 . The filter system of  claim 12 , the second housing further comprising:
 an opening in the first end;   a bottom plate disposed at the second end; and   at least one aperture extending through the wall defining the second cavity.   
     
     
         20 . The filter system of  claim 13 , the processing media comprising at least one of a filter, an odorizer, and a deodorizer.