Patent ID: 8142533

Claim:
A filter element, comprising: a zigzag-folded filter medium ( 10 ) arranged in a tubular concentric shape; a first end plate ( 11 ) arranged at an axial end face of said concentric filter medium, said first end plate having a central portion that is either open or closed; and a second end plate ( 12 ) arranged at an opposing axial end face of said filter medium; wherein said second end plate ( 12 ) includes a concentric opening ( 13 ) therethrough, said second end plate extending substantially in a circular ring-shape about end face folds of the filter medium; wherein said second end plate ( 12 ) includes an outwards facing ring face including a first annular bead ( 14 ) extending axially outwards from said second end plate in a direction axially away from said filter element; wherein said outwards facing ring face of said second end plate includes a sealing groove ( 16 ) formed in said ring face; wherein the annular bead ( 14 ) includes at least one outer end face ( 18 , 19 ), said at least one outer end face ( 18 , 19 ) is configured to be supportively received against support ribs ( 20 , 21 ) provided in a housing configured to receive said filter element; wherein the reinforcement plate ( 17 ) is embedded into the second end plate, wherein the reinforcement plate has perforations ( 22 ) operable to support flow of polyurethane foam providing a positive-locking connection between said filter medium and said reinforcement plate.