Patent ID: 6994742

Claim:
A filter element comprising: (a) a media pack comprising: (i) a construction of a media composite; said construction including a substrate having a plurality of pleats having a length extending from said first end to said second end, the substrate comprising a filter medium having an efficiency when tested with particles having a diameter of 0.01 to 1 μm; (ii) said construction having a tubular shape and defining an open interior having a first and a second opposite ends; and (iii) said substrate at least partially covered by a single layer, said layer comprising a polymeric fine fiber comprising a fiber with a diameter of about 0.01 to 0.5 microns such that after test exposure for a test period of 16 hours to test conditions of 140° F. air and a relative humidity of 100% retains greater than 30% of the fiber unchanged for filtration purposes, the fine fiber comprising a crosslinked polyvinylalcohol; (b) a first end cap and a second end cap; (i) said media pack being secured to said first end cap at said first end of said media pack; (ii) said media pack being secured to said second end cap at said second end of said media pack; (iii) at least one of said first and second end caps including a sealing portion; said sealing portion comprising a material compressible in a direction toward said media pack.