Patent ID: 7981186

Claim:
An air filter cartridge comprising: (a) a region of filter media surrounding and defining an open central interior; (b) first and second end caps; (i) the media extending between the first and second end caps; (ii) the second end cap being an open end cap having an outer, annular, outwardly directed housing radial seal surface circumscribing an outer periphery of the second end cap; and, (c) a preform including a shield; the shield surrounding the media at a location adjacent the second end cap; (i) the shield including an imperforate portion extending at least 10% of the axial length of the cartridge and not more than 40% of the length of the cartridge; and, (ii) the preform having a tip portion, defining a receiving pocket, embedded in the second end cap; the receiving pocket being formed between inner and outer wall portions of the preform; (A) the tip portion of the preform, embedded in the second end cap, being perforate.