Patent ID: 7316723

Claim:
A filter element comprising a media composite; said composite including a spun bonded polyester substrate having a plurality of pleats having a length extending from a first end to a second end, the substrate comprising a filter medium having an efficiency, a permeability of about 2 to 900 meters-min −1 , a thickness of greater than 0.4 mm; said composite defining a cylindrical cartridge or a flat panel; and said substrate at least partially covered by at least a layer, said layer comprising a polymeric fine fiber comprising a fiber with a diameter of about 0.01 to 5 microns, a basis weight of 0.0005 to 0.2 mg-cm −2 and a thickness of 0.001 to 3 microns; wherein the element has an efficiency greater than 20% when measured according to ASTM-1215-89, with 0.78 micron monodisperse polystyrene spherical particles, at 20 fpm (6.1 meters/min), a permeability of about 2 to 900 meters-min −1 .