The disclosure is directed toward presses which may comprise planar or curved press plates that can be driven toward and away from each other such as via linear reciprocating movement to press filter media sheets as opposed to using rolls. The press plates can create such features as embossments that may have the ridges and grooves, brands, creases or other such features. The press can create pleated packs or individual panels for non-pleated packs. Additionally, a variety of embossed pleat packs, unique shapes, structural components and other pleat packs that may be formed by presses or other methodology are disclosed as well as filter cartridges using such pleat packs.

Disclosed are improved polymer materials. Also disclosed are fine fiber materials that can be made from the improved polymeric materials in the form of microfiber and nanofiber structures. The microfiber and nanofiber structures can be used in a variety of useful applications including the formation of filter materials.

Various high performance, high efficiency filter media are provided that are cost effective and easy to manufacture. In particular, various filter media are provided having at least one layer with a waved configuration that results in an increased surface area, thereby enhancing various properties of the filter media. The filter media can be used to form a variety of filter elements for use in various applications.

An air filter is provided for use with an internal combustion engine including an air intake conduit. The air filter includes a top, a bottom, and filter media extending between the top and the base of the bottom to filter incoming air. The top is closed to prevent air flow therethrough. The bottom includes an annular base having an inner perimeter and an outer perimeter spaced apart from and surrounding the inner perimeter, an opening defined by the inner perimeter to deliver filtered air to the air intake conduit, a first tab portion extending outward away from the base, and a second tab portion extending outward away from the base.

A filter device is disclosed having a round filter element having a filter medium body with an open interior. The filter element is installable into a filter housing having a base filter housing and a housing cover, in which an inflow opening of the cover overlaps against and aligns with an inflow opening of a base housing part such they form a continuous inflow opening. A support mesh cage arranged on the radially outer wall of the annular filter medium body. The filter housing has a longitudinally extended cross-sectional shape in which the inflow opening and an outlet opening are both arranged on the base housing part at opposing sides of the base housing part.

A collapsible air cleaner filter is provided. The filter includes a pleated media filter having a first end, a second end, and a filter media extending between the first and second ends, wherein the filter media includes a first plurality of flexible end portions and a second plurality of flexible end portions, the first and second plurality of flexible end portions are separated by a plurality of pleats, and the filter media extends a first length between the first and second plurality of flexible end portions, and an end member coupled to the first end of the pleated media filter, the end member extending a second length parallel to the first length, the first length being greater than the second length.

The inventive semi-finished product for a filter, particularly an air filter, comprises a filter medium, wherein said filter medium comprises a nonwoven having fibrous structure produced in a melt-spinning process and at least partially arranged in pleated layers.

A filter element includes a construction of pleated filter media defining an interior volume. First and second opposite end caps are secured to opposite ends of the filter media. A support structure supports the filter media and is operably oriented in the interior volume. The support structure extends from the first opposing interior face to the second opposing interior face. The support structure is provided to extend less than a full extension between the first end cap and second end cap.

A method of packaging a filter media that is pre-folded for insertion is a filter assembly is provided.

A filter assembly has a first housing having a plurality of recesses provided therein and a second housing having a plurality of ribs provided on an inner surface thereof. When the first and second housings are in an engaged configuration, the ribs are receivable in the recesses of the first housing thereby securing a filter media in the filter assembly.