Pleatable filter media

Abstract

Nonwoven material, pleated filter media and filters, such as residential and commercial air filters, are provided. A nonwoven material comprises a first fiber layer and a second layer in contact with the first fiber layer. The second layer comprises two or more rows of filaments spaced from each other and extending along at least a portion of the first layer. The rows of filaments provide sufficient support to the filter media that it is capable of holding its shape over time. Thus, a filter media comprising the nonwoven material may be manufactured without a metal mesh, which improves the safety of the filter during handling and facilitates its incineration at the end of its life. In addition, the overall filter may have a lower pressure loss and a higher dust holding capacity because there it does not contain a metal mesh layer blocking air flow through the filter.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.