Snap together header and cell side assembly

Claim 1

A unit filter assembly comprising: a peripheral filter frame having upstream and downstream peripheral edges defining open upstream and downstream faces, respectively, to permit fluid flow therethrough; a filter media disposed within the filter frame transverse the direction of fluid flow between the open upstream and downstream faces of the peripheral filter frame; a first border flange attached to the upstream edge of the peripheral filter frame, the first border flange having a generally U-shaped transverse cross-section defined by a base leg portion and a pair of opposed inner and outer leg portions extending therefrom, the base leg portion extending therefrom, the base leg portion extending outwardly of the upstream peripheral edge of the peripheral filter frame with the outer leg portion extending in spaced substantially parallel relationship to the side wall of the filter frame, the inner leg portion of the first border flange having a terminal filter media retaining portion extending normal therefrom and in abutment with the periphery of the filter media at the open upstream face of the filter frame to restrain the filter media in the filter frame; and, first clamping means comprising a base leg integrally formed with and projecting obliquely outwardly from the upstream edge of the filter frame at an acute angle to the side wall of the filter frame; and, an outer leg projecting obliquely from the projecting end of the base leg at an obtuse angle to the base leg and extending in a direction generally back over the side wall of the filter frame, the first clamping means being wedged into the U-shaped motor flange of the opening between the inner and outer leg portions thereof such that the surface of the inner leg portion interior to the U-shaped cross-section of the first border flange is in parallel abutment with the side wall of the peripheral filter frame adjacent the upstream edge of the filter frame and the free end of the outer leg of the first clamping means is in tight abutment with the outer leg of the first border flange to maintain the first border flange in tight fixed position on the filter frame.