Filter pad holder

An improved filter pad holder for supporting a filter pad and for use in conjunction with a filter system having a pumping unit to filter a contaminated fluid. The filter pad holder (10) includes a base frame (20) and an upper housing (22) hingedly coupled by a pair of spaced-apart hinges (24) to form a chamber (53) when pivoted to a closed operative position. When held in this closed operative position by a pair of spaced-apart latches (26), a pair of tapered ribs (32 and 34) extending upwardly about the periphery of the base frame compress the filter pad (28) against the upper housing to create a substantially fluid-tight seal. Consequently, when the filter pad holder is coupled to the pumping unit, the contaminated fluid is prevented from exiting the chamber without passing through the filter pad. Rather, the contaminated fluid is drawn into the bottom of the chamber through an inlet opening (30) in the base frame, then through the filter pad, and then out the top the chamber through an outlet aperture (50) in the upper housing.