Patent ID: 7135051

Claim:
A filter for removing particulate from a gas stream flowing through a debris collecting chamber of a vacuum cleaner, the filter comprising: a) a base having an aperture through which the gas stream can flow; b) a filter media strip having opposing first and second lateral edges, the first lateral edge sealingly mounted to the base around the base aperture forming an outwardly facing surface on the filter media strip, said filter media strip having pores of a predetermined size for permitting gas to flow through; c) a substantially gas impermeable lid sealingly mounted to the second lateral edge of the filter media strip and spaced from the base with the filter media strip interposed between the lid and the base; and d) a cap comprising: i. a sidewall having a first end and an opposite second end mounted to the base, the sidewall having at least one pre-filtering porous panel spaced from the outwardly facing surface of the filter media strip, thereby forming a first gas pathway extending from openings formed in the sidewall's pre-filtering porous panel through the pores in the filter media strip to the base aperture; ii. a cap endwall extending across the sidewall at the first end, said endwall having at least one pre-filtering porous panel spaced from the gas impermeable lid, thereby forming a second gas pathway extending from openings formed in the endwall's pre-filtering porous panel through the pores in the filter media strip to the base aperture; and iii. wherein the openings in the pre-filtering porous panels are substantially larger than the pores in the filter media strip.