Patent ID: 7209319

Claim:
A disk drive comprising: a disk drive housing having a breather hole formed through the disk drive housing; and a breather filter configured for attachment to the disk drive housing and for limiting and filtering airflow into the disk drive housing, the breather filter including a breather filter housing portion having a breather filter housing surface defining a filter housing hole configured to align with the breather hole formed in the disk drive housing, and a filter portion fitted within the filter housing portion; a leveling layer defining a first leveling layer surface and a second leveling layer surface, the leveling layer being formed of a material that is impermeable to air; a first adhesive layer, the first adhesive layer being configured to adhere the breather filter housing surface to the first leveling layer surface; a second adhesive layer, the second adhesive layer being configured to adhere the second leveling layer surface to the disk drive housing, the leveling layer and the first and second adhesive layers defining respective openings that are in fluid communication with the filter housing hole and the breather hole to collectively form a delimited and sealed airflow inlet to the disk drive.