US5603747A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Air filter and method of producing the same
Assignee: 3M Co
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Filing: 1994-01-31
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Granted: 1997-02-18
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Expires: 2014-01-31
Abstract
Abstract To provide an air filter that does not cause holding members to peel even in a high temperature environment, and which can be produced quickly and easily. An air filter (10) includes a filter member (12), holding members (14) disposed at both longitudinal side edges of the filter member (12), and non-woven fabric members (16) for fixing the filter member (12) and the holding members (14). The filter member (12) includes a non-woven fabric of thermoplastic microfibers. The holding members (14) have a bending resistance sufficient to maintain its shape and hold the filter member (12) in its pleated state. The non-woven fabric members (16) have a heat resistance with a melting point not lower than 90° C. and a temporary fixing ability capable of being disposed at the edge portions of the filter member (12) without using a jig.
Inventors
- 👤 Yoshiya Matuda
- 👤 Masahiro Nawa
- 👤 Tadayoshi Takiguchi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 17:21
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D46/00; B01D46/52; B01D46/521; B01D46/0001; B01D46/10; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S264/00; Y10S264/48; Y10S55/00; Y10S55/05; Y10T; Y10T156/00; Y10T156/10; Y10T156/1002; Y10T156/1051
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
An air filter comprising: a filter member formed by folding a sheet of porous material into a pleated form, the material being capable of filtering contaminated air, and having a plurality of filter portions connected through bent portions; holding members resistant to stretching forces fixed to edge portions of said filter member for holding said filter member in said pleated form wherein adjacent filter portions are spaced with a predetermined gap forming the pleated form of the filter member, and non-woven fabric members made of a thermoplastic polymeric fiber material said non-woven fabric members arranged between the edge portions of said filter member and said holding members, which non-woven fabric members are at least partially melted by being heated to a predetermined temperature said non-woven fabric members mutually fixing said filter member edge portions to said holding members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
138 words
An air filter comprising: a filter member formed by folding a sheet of porous material into a pleated form, the material being capable of filtering contaminated air, and having a plurality of filter portions connected through bent portions; holding members resistant to stretching forces fixed to edge portions of said filter member for holding said filter member in said pleated form wherein adjacent filter portions are spaced with a predetermined gap forming the pleated form of the filter member, and non-woven fabric members made of a thermoplastic polymeric fiber material said non-woven fabric members arranged between the edge portions of said filter member and said holding members, which non-woven fabric members are at least partially melted by being heated to a predetermined temperature said non-woven fabric members mutually fixing said filter member edge portions to said holding members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
An air filter according to claim 1, wherein said non-woven fabric members comprise melt-blown non-woven fabrics formed by randomly mixing melt-blown microfibers and crimped staple fibers, both made of a thermoplastic polymeric material, at a predetermined weight ratio.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
An air filter according to claim 2, wherein the melting point of at least a portion of said crimped staple fibers is higher than that of at least a portion of said melt-blown microfibers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
An air filter according to claim 1, wherein said filter member comprises a non-woven fabric formed of the same melt-blown microfibers as those of said non-woven fabric members, and said holding members comprise a sheet of fibrous material having a bending resistance enabling it to maintain its shape.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
An air filter according to claim 1, wherein the basis weight of said non-woven fabric members before heating and melting is in a range of from 40 to 100 g/m 2 .
Claim 7
Independent Claim
146 words
A method of producing an air filter equipped with a filter member made of a sheet of porous material capable of filtering contaminated air, comprising the steps of: folding a sheet of porous filter material into a pleated form and cutting it into predetermined dimensions so as to form a filter member; arranging holding members, that are resistant to stretching forces, on edge portions of said filter member, while interposing non-woven fabric members made of a thermoplastic polymeric fiber material between the molding members and the edge portions of the filter member; and applying a predetermined heat and pressure to said holding members from a side opposite to the side in contact with said non-woven fabric members so as to melt at least portions of said non-woven fabric members coming in contact with said filter member, thereby mutually fixing said filter member and said holding members.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
146 words
A method of producing an air filter equipped with a filter member made of a sheet of porous material capable of filtering contaminated air, comprising the steps of: folding a sheet of porous filter material into a pleated form and cutting it into predetermined dimensions so as to form a filter member; arranging holding members, that are resistant to stretching forces, on edge portions of said filter member, while interposing non-woven fabric members made of a thermoplastic polymeric fiber material between the molding members and the edge portions of the filter member; and applying a predetermined heat and pressure to said holding members from a side opposite to the side in contact with said non-woven fabric members so as to melt at least portions of said non-woven fabric members coming in contact with said filter member, thereby mutually fixing said filter member and said holding members.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 6, comprising the step of mutually fixing by fiber entanglement said non-woven fabric members and said holding members before arranging them at the edge portions of said filter member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein said non-woven fabric members are formed by randomly mixing melt-blown microfibers and crimped staple fibers, both made of a thermoplastic polymeric material, at a predetermined weight ratio.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
36 words
A method according to any one of claims 6 to 2, wherein said non-woven fabric members are heated for a period of 60 seconds and less at 200° C.±50° C. in said heating and melting step.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-02-18 | 2000-08-19 | 2001-02-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-02-18 | 2004-08-19 | 2005-02-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-02-18 | 2008-08-19 | 2009-02-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |