Patent ID: 7582131

Claim:
A filter assembly for removing particulate matter from a fluid stream, the filter assembly comprising: a filter medium having a number of longitudinally extending spaced pleats, wherein opposing faces of adjacent pleats form a valley therebetween and include a pair of peak portions and a valley portion; and a plastic support net being pleated for supporting the filter medium in a pleated shape, the plastic support net including spaced strands extending in a first direction and spaced strands extending in a second direction generally transverse to the first direction, the spaced strands extending in the first direction continuously extending over the valley and peak portions of opposing faces of adjacent filter medium pleats and being aligned in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the filter medium pleats, and the plastic support net being formed of a plastic material capable of being pleated into a pleated shape at an ambient temperature and substantially holding the pleated shape after the ambient pleating operation.