Air plenum filter adapter component

Claim 1

A component for mating with an end panel of a deep format filter element to form in combination therewith a filter assembly suitable for replacing a shallow rectangular filter element in a rectangular filter mount opening of an air duct, said opening having an interior peripheral duct flange having a mating surface facing outwardly from the duct and an interior edge defining a air stream passage, for receiving the shallow filter element, said filter mount opening including a cover movable from an open position spaced away from the duct flange to a closed position in spaced relation to the duct flange, said cover having a mating surface on the periphery and in facing and spaced relation to the duct flange when the cover is in the closed position, said cover mating surface and duct flange for cooperating to support a shallow filter element in the air stream passage, wherein said component comprises an elongate panel having oppositely facing inner and outer surfaces, first and second ends, inner and outer edges running between the first and second ends, a flange extending at approximately right angles from the panel's inner surface for supporting the side plane of the deep filter element, and a feature at each end for mating with the filter element's end panel, and said component having a sealing flange and a linear support flange each mounted on and projecting from the outer surface, said sealing and support flanges in spaced and parallel relationship to each other, said sealing flange having a sealing face generally facing the inner edge of the component and extending along substantially the entire length of the component, and said support flange having a support face facing away from the first flange's sealing face, wherein when said component is assembled to form a part of said filter assembly and said filter assembly is mounted in the filter mount opening, said sealing face forms surface contact with the peripheral duct flange and said support face cooperates with the cover and the mating surface thereof to urge the sealing face into contact with the peripheral duct flange when the filter assembly is mounted within the air stream passage and the cover is in the closed position, whereby the filter assembly is supported in the air stream passage and the sealing face forms a sealing engagement with the duct flange.