US5098767A — Filter device with micropleats and macropleats

Claim 1

Independent Claim 92 words

A filter assembly comprising a frame defining a flow path from inlet to outlet side and a filter disposed within said frame across the flow path, said filter being formed from a sheet of filter material having a thickness no greater than about 0.03 inch and formed into micropleats, and having at least one strip of adhesive material applied across the peaks of the micropleats and oriented at right angles to the axes of the micropleats, a said micropleated sheet defining macropleats with pleat axes generally parallel to those of the micropleats.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 92 words

A filter assembly comprising a frame defining a flow path from inlet to outlet side and a filter disposed within said frame across the flow path, said filter being formed from a sheet of filter material having a thickness no greater than about 0.03 inch and formed into micropleats, and having at least one strip of adhesive material applied across the peaks of the micropleats and oriented at right angles to the axes of the micropleats, a said micropleated sheet defining macropleats with pleat axes generally parallel to those of the micropleats.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 31 words

A filter assembly according to claim 1 in which at least one strip of adhesive material is applied to the peaks of the micropleats on both faces of the micropleated sheet.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 16 words

A filter assembly according to claim 2 in which the adhesive material is a thermoplastic polymer.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 20 words

A filter assembly according to claim 1 in which the sheet has a thickness of less than about 0.02 inch.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 18 words

A filter assembly according to claim 4 in which the sheet is supported on a porous web material.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 20 words

A filter assembly according to claim 5 in which the porous web is formed of a spun-bonded, continuous filament nylon.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 17 words

A filter assembly according to claim 1 in which the sheet is formed from resin-impregnated glass fibers.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 24 words

A filter assembly according to claim 1 in which the depth of the macropleats is at least eight times the depth of the micropleats.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 86 words

A filter assembly comprising a frame defining a flow path from inlet to outlet side and, disposed, within said frame, a filter across the flow path, said filter comprising a sheet having a thickness no greater than about 0.03 inch and formed into micropleats having a bending radius of less than the critical radius and a micropleat depth to sheet thickness ratio of about from 10 to 100, said micropleated sheet defining macropleats with the axes of said macropleats substantially parallel to those of the micropleats.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 86 words

A filter assembly comprising a frame defining a flow path from inlet to outlet side and, disposed, within said frame, a filter across the flow path, said filter comprising a sheet having a thickness no greater than about 0.03 inch and formed into micropleats having a bending radius of less than the critical radius and a micropleat depth to sheet thickness ratio of about from 10 to 100, said micropleated sheet defining macropleats with the axes of said macropleats substantially parallel to those of the micropleats.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 19 words

A filter assembly according to claim 9 in which the sheet has a thickness of less than 0.02 inch.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 20 words

A filter assembly according to claim 10 in which the depth filter sheet is supported on a porous web material.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 20 words

A filter assembly according to claim 11 in which the porous web is formed of a spun-bonded, continuous filament nylon.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 17 words

A filter assembly according to claim 9 in which the sheet is formed from resin-impregnated glass fibers.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 24 words

A filter assembly according to claim 9 in which the depth of the macropleats is at least eight times the depth of the micropleats.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 115 words

A filter assembly comprising a frame defining a flow path from inlet to outlet sides and disposed within said frame a filter across the flow path, said filter comprising a micropleated sheet formed of spun-bonded glass fibers supported on a porous web of spun-bonded nylon, said sheet having a thickness of from about 0.01 to 0.02 inch, and from 12 to 15 micropleats to the linear inch formed therein, said micropleats having a bending radius of less than about 0.01 inch and a ratio of the depth of the micropleats to the sheet thickness of from 20 to 30, said micropleated sheet defining macropleats with pleat axes generally parallel to the axes of the micropleats.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 115 words

A filter assembly comprising a frame defining a flow path from inlet to outlet sides and disposed within said frame a filter across the flow path, said filter comprising a micropleated sheet formed of spun-bonded glass fibers supported on a porous web of spun-bonded nylon, said sheet having a thickness of from about 0.01 to 0.02 inch, and from 12 to 15 micropleats to the linear inch formed therein, said micropleats having a bending radius of less than about 0.01 inch and a ratio of the depth of the micropleats to the sheet thickness of from 20 to 30, said micropleated sheet defining macropleats with pleat axes generally parallel to the axes of the micropleats.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 92 words

An air filter assembly comprising a frame defining a flow path from inlet to outlet sides and a filter disposed within said frame across the flow path, said filter comprising a sheet having a thickness no greater than about 0.03 inch and from 12 to 15 micropleats per linear inch, each micropleat having a bending radius of less than about 0.01 inch and a micropleat depth to sheet thickness ratio of from about 20 to 30, said micropleated sheet defining macropleats with pleat axes generally parallel to the axes of the micropleats.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 92 words

An air filter assembly comprising a frame defining a flow path from inlet to outlet sides and a filter disposed within said frame across the flow path, said filter comprising a sheet having a thickness no greater than about 0.03 inch and from 12 to 15 micropleats per linear inch, each micropleat having a bending radius of less than about 0.01 inch and a micropleat depth to sheet thickness ratio of from about 20 to 30, said micropleated sheet defining macropleats with pleat axes generally parallel to the axes of the micropleats.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 40 words

An air filter assembly according to claim 16 having inlet and outlet sides wherein the distance between adjacent peaks of the macropleated sheets on the inlet side is from 0.5 to 2.0 times the corresponding spacing on the outlet side.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 34 words

An air filter assembly according to claim 15 wherein at least one strip of adhesive material is applied across the peaks of the micropleats and oriented generally perpendicular to the axes of the micropleats.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 28 words

An air filter assembly according to claim 18 wherein the adhesive material is a thermoplastic polymer and the strips are applied on both faces of the micropleated sheet.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 27 words

An air filter assembly according to claim 16 wherein said sheet has a thickness of less than about 0.02 inch and is supported on a porous web.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 132 words

An air filter assembly comprising a frame having a generally regular box shaped configuration with one dimension shorter than the other two, said shorter dimension being the direction of air flow through the filter assembly and, disposed within said frame, a composite sheet of a glass fiber filter with a thickness of less than about 0.02 inch supported upon a porous web of continuous nylon filaments, said composite sheet having from 12 to 15 micropleats per linear inch with the bending radius of the micropleats being less than 0.01 inch and the ratio of the depth of the micropleats to the sheet thickness being from about 20 to 30, and said micropleated sheet defining a macropleated structure with the axes of the macropleats being generally parallel to the axes of the micropleats.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 132 words

An air filter assembly comprising a frame having a generally regular box shaped configuration with one dimension shorter than the other two, said shorter dimension being the direction of air flow through the filter assembly and, disposed within said frame, a composite sheet of a glass fiber filter with a thickness of less than about 0.02 inch supported upon a porous web of continuous nylon filaments, said composite sheet having from 12 to 15 micropleats per linear inch with the bending radius of the micropleats being less than 0.01 inch and the ratio of the depth of the micropleats to the sheet thickness being from about 20 to 30, and said micropleated sheet defining a macropleated structure with the axes of the macropleats being generally parallel to the axes of the micropleats.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 40 words

An air filter assembly according to claim 21 having inlet and outlet sides in which the distance between adjacent peaks of the macropleats on the inlet side is from 0.5 to 2.0 times the corresponding opening on the outlet side.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 19 words

A method of filtering airplane cabin air which comprises passing the air through a filter according to claim 1.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 19 words

A method of filtering airplane cabin air which comprises passing the air through a filter according to claim 9.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 19 words

A method of filtering airplane cabin air which comprises passing the air through a filter according to claim 15.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 19 words

A method of filtering airplane cabin air which comprises passing the air through a filter according to claim 16.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 20 words

A method of filtering airplane cabin air which comprises passing the air through an air filter according to claim 18.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 20 words

A method of filtering airplane cabin air which comprises passing the air through an air filter according to claim 21.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 20 words

A method of filtering airplane cabin air which comprises passing the air through an air filter according to claim 22.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 123 words

A filter assembly for removing particulate matter from a gas, the filter assembly comprising a frame including an inlet, an outlet, and an impervious side wall defining a gas flow path between the inlet and the outlet; a filter means disposed across the gas flow path within the frame and including edges sealed against the side wall of the frame, the filter being formed into micropleats having peaks and axes, the axes extending generally parallel to the peaks, and further formed into macropleats having V-shaped configurations and axes generally parallel to the axes of the micropleats; and a plurality of strips of adhesive material extending across the peaks of the micropleats and generally oriented at right angles to the axes of the micropleats.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 123 words

A filter assembly for removing particulate matter from a gas, the filter assembly comprising a frame including an inlet, an outlet, and an impervious side wall defining a gas flow path between the inlet and the outlet; a filter means disposed across the gas flow path within the frame and including edges sealed against the side wall of the frame, the filter being formed into micropleats having peaks and axes, the axes extending generally parallel to the peaks, and further formed into macropleats having V-shaped configurations and axes generally parallel to the axes of the micropleats; and a plurality of strips of adhesive material extending across the peaks of the micropleats and generally oriented at right angles to the axes of the micropleats.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 52 words

A filter assembly comprising a frame defining a flow path from inlet to outlet side, and a filter disposed within said frame across the flow path, said filter comprising a sheet having micropleats, and the micropleated sheet defining macropleats, wherein the bending radius of said micropleats is less than the critical radius.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 52 words

A filter assembly comprising a frame defining a flow path from inlet to outlet side, and a filter disposed within said frame across the flow path, said filter comprising a sheet having micropleats, and the micropleated sheet defining macropleats, wherein the bending radius of said micropleats is less than the critical radius.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 25 words

The filter assembly according to claim 31 wherein said micropleats have at least one strip of adhesive material applied across the peaks of said micropleats.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 20 words

The filter assembly according to claim 31 wherein said macropleats have pleat axes generally parallel to those of said micropleats.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 20 words

The filter assembly according to claim 31 wherein the critical radius is between about 0.01 inch and about 0.015 inch.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 61 words

A filter assembly comprising a frame defining a flow path from inlet to outlet side and a filter disposed within said frame across the flow path, said filter being formed from a sheet of filter material and formed into micropleats, and having at least one strip of adhesive material applied across the peaks of the micropleats, said micropleated sheet defining macropleats.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 61 words

A filter assembly comprising a frame defining a flow path from inlet to outlet side and a filter disposed within said frame across the flow path, said filter being formed from a sheet of filter material and formed into micropleats, and having at least one strip of adhesive material applied across the peaks of the micropleats, said micropleated sheet defining macropleats.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1995-03-24	1995-09-23	1996-03-24	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1999-03-24	1999-09-23	2000-03-24	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2003-03-24	2003-09-23	2004-03-24	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Filter device with micropleats and macropleats

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