Evaporative emissions filter

1. An evaporative emissions filter for an engine air induction system having a direct air flow path, the air induction system including a housing containing an air filter, the evaporative emissions filter comprising:

a hydrocarbon vapor-adsorbent member disposed within the air induction system substantially outside of the direct air flow path, and disposed above the direct air flow path, wherein the hydrocarbon vapor-adsorbent member is disposed only on a portion of a section of the air induction system defining the direct air flow path; and

a fastener for mounting the evaporative emissions filter within the air filter housing;

wherein hydrocarbon vapors present in the air induction system after engine shut-down are substantially retained in the adsorbent member until air flows through the air induction system after the engine starts.

2. The evaporative emissions filter as defined in claim 1 wherein the air induction system further comprises an air resonator that is attached to, and in fluid communication with at least one of an air induction tube and the housing, and wherein another evaporative emissions filter is mounted within the air resonator.

3. The evaporative emissions filter as defined in claim 1 wherein the evaporative emissions filter is mounted within the air filter housing on the clean air side of the housing.

4. The evaporative emissions filter as defined in claim 1 wherein the evaporative emissions filter is mounted within the air filter housing on the dirty air side of the housing.

5. The evaporative emissions filter as defined in claim 1 , further comprising a second evaporative emissions filter, wherein the evaporative emissions filter is mounted within the air filter housing on the clean air side of the housing, and the second evaporative emissions filter is mounted within the air filter housing on the dirty air side of the housing.

6. The evaporative emissions filter as defined in claim 1 , further comprising at least two additional evaporative emissions filters, wherein one of the evaporative emissions filters is mounted on at least three internal walls of the housing.

7. The evaporative emissions filter as defined in claim 1 wherein the adsorbent member has as a main component thereof a hydrocarbon vapor-adsorbing material comprising at least one of activated carbon, zeolites, cyclodextrins, hydrophobic cellulose, liquid phase absorbents, and mixtures thereof.

8. The evaporative emissions filter as defined in claim 7 wherein the hydrocarbon vapor-adsorbing material is activated carbon.

9. The evaporative emissions filter as defined in claim 1 , further comprising a member for protecting the hydrocarbon vapor-adsorbent member from at least one of water and contaminants while the engine is running.

10. The evaporative emissions filter as defined in claim 9 wherein the protecting member is at least one of a hinged flapper and louvres.

11. An air induction system for an internal combustion engine, the air induction system having a direct air flow path, the system comprising:

an air filter;

a housing containing the air filter; and

an evaporative emissions filter, comprising:

a hydrocarbon vapor-adsorbent member disposed within the air induction system substantially outside of the direct air flow path, and disposed above the direct air flow path, wherein the hydrocarbon vapor-adsorbent member is disposed only on a section of the air induction system defining the direct air flow path, wherein the adsorbent member is mounted within the air filter housing; and

a fastener for mounting the evaporative emissions filter within the air filter housing;

wherein hydrocarbon vapors present in the air induction system after engine shut-down are substantially retained in the adsorbent member until air flows through the air induction system after the engine starts.

12. A method for adsorbing hydrocarbon vapors from an automotive engine air induction system after engine shut down, the system having a direct air flow path and including a housing containing an air filter, the method comprising the step of:

operatively placing an evaporative emissions filter substantially outside of the direct air flow path, and disposed above the direct air flow path, and within the air filter housing, wherein the hydrocarbon vapor-adsorbent member is disposed only on a portion of a section of the air filter housing defining the direct air flow path and the evaporative emissions filter comprising a hydrocarbon vapor-adsorbent member, wherein hydrocarbon vapors present in the air induction system after engine shut-down are substantially retained in the adsorbent member until air flows through the air induction system after the engine starts.

13. The method as in claim 12 , wherein the hydrocarbon vapor adsorbent member comprises activated carbon disposed between two layers of a fine mesh screen.

14. The method as in claim 13 , wherein the hydrocarbon vapor adsorbent member comprises less than 37 grams of activated carbon and wherein approximately 99.6 percent of 1.5 grams of gasoline vapor released into the air induction system is retained therein after engine shut down.

15. The evaporative emissions filter as in claim 1 , wherein the hydrocarbon vapor adsorbent member comprises activated carbon disposed between two layers of a fine mesh screen.

16. The evaporative emissious filter as in claim 15 , wherein the hydrocarbon vapor adsorbent member comprises less than 37 grams of activated carbon and wherein approximately 99.6 percent of 1.5 grams of gasoline vapor released into the air induction system is retained therein after engine shut down.

17. The air induction system as in claim 11 , wherein the hydrocarbon vapor adsorbent member comprises activated carbon disposed between two layers of a fine mesh screen.

18. The air induction system as in claim 17 , wherein the hydrocarbon vapor adsorbent member comprises less than 37 grams of activated carbon and wherein approximately 99.6 percent of 1.5 grams of gasoline vapor released into the air induction system is retained therein after engine shut down.