Framed pleated air filter with upstream bridging filaments

A framed pleated air filter, comprising:

• a non-self-supporting, compressible, pleated air filter media with an upstream face and a downstream face and a generally rectangular perimeter with four major edges,
• wherein the non-self-supporting, compressible, pleated air filter media comprises a plurality of oppositely-facing pleats with a pleat direction and with a plurality of upstream pleat tips and upstream pleat valleys and downstream pleat tips and downstream pleat valleys, the media further comprising a plurality of bridging filaments that are in discontinuous contact with the upstream face of the media and that are bonded to at least some of the upstream pleat tips;
• and,
• a pinch frame comprising four major frame portions, with each major frame portion being mounted on one of the four major edges of the media,
• wherein the framed pleated air filter does not comprise any support member on the downstream face of the pleated air filter media, and
• wherein each major frame portion comprises a sidewall angle of from about 100 degrees to about 160 degrees and wherein the framed pleated air filter is nestable.