Air cleaner with folding side walls

Claim 2

A filter assembly in which a pleated filter element is supported in a housing without the need of a screen to support the filter element, comprising: a. a housing having two opposed side wall means and bottom wall means joining said side wall means, said bottom wall means having an aperture therein; b. said side wall means each comprising a first wall portion, having inner and outer faces, connected along a bottom edge thereof to said bottom wall means by first hinge means, and a second wall portion, having inner and outer faces, connected adjacent one edge thereof to an upper edge of said first wall portion by second hinge means; c. a pleated filter element comprising a series of folds connected by fold lines, extending between said side wall means; d. means for holding both wall portions of each of said side wall means in a side-by-side relationship generally perpendicular to said bottom wall means with said second wall portions positioned between said first wall portions; e. said filter element having at least one fold at each end thereof engaged between said first and second wall portions of the adjoining side wall means, each said one fold having opposite faces thereof in face-to-face contact with the inner faces of said corresponding side wall means; and f. means for sealing the ends of said pleated filter element.

Claim 3

The filter assembly of claim 1 wherein an upstanding wall member is mounted on said bottom wall means adjacent each of said side wall means to form a slot between said upstanding wall member and said first wall portion into which said one fold, an adjacent fold, and the connecting fold line extends, with said second wall portion extending between said folds to securely hold said folds in said slot.

Claim 4

The filter assembly of claim 2 wherein a pair of inwardly extending latch members are affixed to opposite ends of said first wall portion to engage opposite ends of said second wall portion to hold said portions in a generally side-by-side relationship, said latch members also acting to center said one fold therebetween.

Claim 5

The filter assembly of claim 3 wherein said latch members are sufficiently long to engage opposite ends of said upstanding wall member to hold said side wall means perpendicular to said bottom wall means.

Claim 6

A disposable air filter assembly in which a pleated filter element is supported in a housing without the need of a screen to support the filter element, comprising: a. a unitary, molded housing having two opposed side wall means and bottom wall means joining said side wall means, said bottom wall means having an air flow passage therein; b. said side wall means each comprising a first rectangular wall portion, having inner and outer faces, connected along a bottom edge thereof to said bottom wall means by first hinge means, and a second rectangular wall portion of generally the same size, and having inner and outer faces, connected adjacent one edge thereof to an upper edge of said first wall portion by second hinge means; c. an accordion-like pleated filter element comprising a series of folds connected by fold lines, extending between said side wall means; d. means for holding both wall portions of each of said side wall means in a side-by-side relationship generally perpendicular tO said bottom wall means with said second wall portions positioned between said first wall portions; e. said housing including a rectangular wall member extending upwardly from said bottom wall means adjacent each of said side wall means to form a slot between each wall member and the adjacent first wall portion; f. said filter element having a pair of folds at each end thereof positioned in one of said slots with the fold line between each pair positioned adjacent the bottom of the slot, said second wall portion extending between said pair of folds, and the end folding extending between said first and second wall portions with opposite faces thereof in face-to-face contact with the inner faces of said wall portions; and g. means for sealing the ends of said pleated filter element.

Claim 7

A disposable air filter assembly in which a pleated filter element is supported in a housing without the need of a screen to support the filter element, comprising: a. a unitary, molded housing having two opposed side wall means and bottom wall means joining said side wall means, said bottom wall means having an air flow passage therein; b. said side wall means each comprising a first rectangular wall portion, having inner and outer faces, connected along a bottom edge thereof to said bottom wall means by first hinge means, and a second rectangular wall portion of generally the same size, and having inner and outer faces, connected adjacent one edge thereof to an upper edge of said first wall portion by second hinge means; c. an accordion-like pleated filter element comprising a series of folds connected by fold lines, extending between said side wall means; d. means for holding both wall portions of each of said side wall means in a side-by-side relationship generally perpendicular tO said bottom wall means with said second wall portions positioned between said first wall portions; e. said housing including a rectangular wall member extending upwardly from said bottom wall means adjacent each of said side wall means to form a slot between each wall member and the adjacent first wall portion; f. said filter element having a pair of folds at each end thereof positioned in one of said slots with the fold line between each pair positioned adjacent the bottom of the slot, said second wall portion extending between said pair of folds, and the end folding extending between said first and second wall portions with opposite faces thereof in face-to-face contact with the inner faces of said wall portions; and g. means for sealing the ends of said pleated filter element.