Filter and filter media having reduced restriction

A method of forming a filter media extending in an axial direction, a transverse direction that is perpendicular to the axial direction, and a lateral direction that is perpendicular to the axial direction and perpendicular to the transverse direction, the method comprising:

• folding a sheet of filter media to form a plurality of pleats comprised of pleat segments extending in the axial direction between first and second axial ends and extending in the transverse direction between first and second sets of pleat tips at least partially defined by first and second sets of bend lines, wherein axial flow channels are defined between the pleat segments in the lateral direction;
• and
• forming the plurality of pleats to have a curvilinear portion such that the plurality of pleats includes a width in the transverse direction that varies along the axial direction.

A filter for filtering fluid, the filter extending in an axial direction, a transverse direction that is perpendicular to the axial direction, and a lateral direction that is perpendicular to the axial direction and perpendicular to the transverse direction, the filter comprising:

• a housing retaining a pleated filter media;
• the pleated filter media comprising a plurality of pleats comprised of pleat segments extending in the axial direction between first and second axial ends and extending in the transverse direction between first and second sets of pleat tips at least partially defined by first and second sets of bend lines;
• wherein axial flow channels are defined between the pleat segments in the lateral direction and wherein the plurality of pleats includes a curvilinear portion such that the plurality of pleats has a width in the transverse direction that varies along the axial direction.