Removable fluid pumping and filtration apparatus

Abstract

A removable fluid pumping and filtration apparatus for a laundry treatment machine is provided. The apparatus includes a handle portion. A filter section is configured to selectively couple to an impeller of the laundry treatment machine, the filter section defining a hollow interior, a lower water opening to allow for the passage of water out of the interior space of the agitator, and an opening about the exterior circumference of the filter section into which a removable filter is selectively attachable. A handle pull locking post is provided within the hollow interior of the apparatus, including a handle pull portion at a top end for gripping against the handle portion and at least one pin at a bottom end configured to selectively lock the apparatus into the base.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A removable filter for attachment to a removable fluid pumping and filtration apparatus of a laundry treatment machine, comprising:
 a front portion; and   a rear portion,   the front portion having a curved front face, a bottom face, and sides extending inward from inside of the front face to selectively enclose a space against a back face and top face of the rear portion.   
     
     
         2 . The removable filter of  claim 1 , wherein the curved front face defines a plurality of water inlets about the exterior of the front portion. 
     
     
         3 . The removable filter of  claim 1 , wherein the rear portion defines a plurality of rear water openings extending about the back face of the rear portion. 
     
     
         4 . The removable filter of  claim 3 , wherein a filter material covers the rear water openings to aid in filtration of pet hair and particulate from wash water. 
     
     
         5 . The removable filter of  claim 1 , wherein the front portion defines a tab at its lower end to fit into a recess of a filter section of the apparatus. 
     
     
         6 . The removable filter of  claim 5 , wherein the top of the front portion defines a snap connector configured to hold the filter section in place against an exterior face of the filter section. 
     
     
         7 . The removable filter of  claim 1 , wherein the removable filter is formed such that when the removable filter is fully inserted into a side opening of a filter section of an agitator, the front portion of the filter section is flush with the exterior of the removable filter to generally continue a curved exterior of the filter section. 
     
     
         8 . The removable filter of  claim 1 , wherein the front portion is hingedly attached to the rear portion. 
     
     
         9 . The removable filter of  claim 1 , further comprising hinges formed by the front portion and back portion to allow the front portion and the rear portion to pivot between the open state and the closed state. 
     
     
         10 . The removable filter of  claim 1 , wherein the top face of the rear portion defines one or more recesses into which snaps of the sides of the front portion fit to lock the filter into the closed state. 
     
     
         11 . A removable filter for attachment to a removable fluid pumping and filtration apparatus of a laundry treatment machine, comprising:
 a front portion; and   a rear portion attached via hinges to the front portion,   the front portion having a curved front face, a bottom face, and sides extending inward from inside of the front face to selectively enclose a space against a back face and top face of the rear portion when the removable filter is in a closed state, and to open the space when the removable filter is in an open state.   
     
     
         12 . The removable filter of  claim 11 , wherein the curved front face defines a plurality of water inlets about the exterior of the front portion. 
     
     
         13 . The removable filter of  claim 11 , wherein the rear portion defines a plurality of rear water openings extending about the back face of the rear portion. 
     
     
         14 . The removable filter of  claim 13 , wherein a filter material covers the rear water openings to aid in filtration of pet hair and particulate from wash water. 
     
     
         15 . The removable filter of  claim 11 , wherein the front portion defines a tab at its lower end to fit into a recess of a filter section of the apparatus. 
     
     
         16 . The removable filter of  claim 15 , wherein the top of the front portion defines a snap connector configured to hold the filter section in place against an exterior face of the filter section. 
     
     
         17 . The removable filter of  claim 11 , wherein the removable filter is formed such that when the removable filter is fully inserted into a side opening of a filter section of an agitator, a cylindrical front face of the filter section is flush with the exterior of the removable filter to generally continue a cylindrical exterior of the filter section. 
     
     
         18 . The removable filter of  claim 11 , wherein the hinges connect the front portion and rear portion at a bottom end via the bottom face and the back face to allow the front portion and rear portion to pivot open from the bottom end. 
     
     
         19 . The removable filter of  claim 11 , wherein the top face of the rear portion defines one or more recesses into which snaps of the sides of the front portion fit to lock the filter into the closed state. 
     
     
         20 . A removable filter for attachment to a removable fluid pumping and filtration apparatus of a laundry treatment machine, comprising:
 a front portion; and   a rear portion hingedly attached to the front portion, the rear portion defining a plurality of rear water openings,   the front portion having a curved front face, a bottom face, and sides extending inward from inside of the front face to selectively enclose a space against a back face and top face of the rear portion when the removable filter is in a closed state, and to open for cleaning the space when the removable filter is in an open state, and the curved front face defining a plurality of water inlets about an exterior of the front portion.