Filter medium with an embedded frame mounted to a support having a mating groove

Claim 1

A filter element, comprising: (a) an essentially rigid plate-shaped support body, in which openings are provided to supply a flow of a medium to be filtered and to remove a filtrate separated from the medium to be filtered; (b) a flexible filter medium blank; and (c) means for releasably mounting the filter medium blank to the support body, the mounting means comprising a mounting frame which is cast, moulded or welded onto an edge portion of the filter medium blank so as to embed the edge portion of the filter medium blank, wherein the support body is formed to have a circumferential mounting groove which corresponds in shape and cross-section to the mounting frame, wherein the mounting frame comprises an elastically flexible material, and wherein the filter medium blank comprises a material which is selected from a group consisting of woven fabric, non-woven or needle felts consisting of monofilament, multifilament or staple fibres and combinations thereof.