Filter and method of making

Abstract

A filter, comprising: a plurality of individual elongated members arranged into a configuration, each of the plurality of elongated members having an internal cavity extending completely therethrough, the plurality of individual elongated members being formed from a filter media for filtering a fluid, the filter having a first end and a second end defined by the ends of the plurality of individual elongated members and a plurality of areas defined between each of the plurality of individual elongated members, wherein fluid flow is blocked at the first end by sealing the plurality of areas at the first end with a sealing material and fluid flow is blocked at the second end by sealing the internal cavity of each of the plurality of individual elongated members at the second end with a sealing material, wherein fluid flow through the filter must pass through the filter media.

1 . A filter, comprising:
 a plurality of separately formed individual elongated members arranged into a configuration such that an exterior surface of each of the plurality of separately formed individual elongated members contacts an exterior surface of at least one other of the plurality of separate individual elongated members, each of the plurality of elongated members having an internal cavity extending completely therethrough, the plurality of individual elongated members being formed from a filter media for filtering a fluid, the filter having a first end and a second end defined by the ends of the plurality of individual elongated members and a plurality of areas defined between each of the plurality of individual elongated members, wherein fluid flow is blocked at the first end by sealing the plurality of areas at the first end with a sealing material and fluid flow is blocked at the second end by sealing the internal cavity of each of the plurality of individual elongated members at the second end with a sealing material, wherein fluid flow through the filter must pass through the filter media.   
   
   
       2 . The filter as in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of individual elongated members are tubes of varying lengths. 
   
   
       3 . The filter as in  claim 2 , wherein the internal cavities of the tubes are circular and the tubes are formed from extruded filter media. 
   
   
       4 . The filter as in  claim 1 , wherein the configuration is defined by a non-uniform length and a non-uniform width, the non-uniform width defining a periphery of the filter. 
   
   
       5 . The filter as in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of individual elongated members are extruded media cylinders and the sealing material is an adhesive. 
   
   
       6 . The filter as in  claim 1 , wherein the filter is configured for a non-uniform housing. 
   
   
       7 . The filter as in  claim 6 , wherein the non-uniform configuration is defined by a non-uniform length and a non-uniform width, the non-uniform width defining a periphery of the filter. 
   
   
       8 . The filter as in  claim 7 , wherein the periphery is kidney shaped and each of the plurality of individual elongated members are formed from extruded filter media. 
   
   
       9 . The filter as in  claim 7 , wherein the periphery is circular. 
   
   
       10 . The filter as in  claim 7 , wherein the periphery is a trapezoid and the sealing material is an adhesive. 
   
   
       11 . The filter as in  claim 6 , wherein the filter is any one of an air filter, an oil filter, and fuel filter. 
   
   
       12 . A non-uniform filter configured for a non-uniform housing, comprising:
 a plurality of separately formed individual elongated members varying in lengths with respect to width, the plurality of individual elongated members being arranged into a non-uniform configuration such that an exterior surface of each of the plurality of separately formed individual elongated members contacts an exterior surface of at least one other of the plurality of separate individual elongated members, the non-uniform configuration including a non- uniform length and a non-uniform width that defines a periphery of the filter, each of the plurality of elongated members having an internal cavity extending completely through the non-uniform length, the plurality of individual elongated members being formed from a filter media for filtering a fluid, the filter having a first end and a second end defined by the non-uniform length, the ends of the plurality of individual elongated members and a plurality of areas defined between each of the plurality of individual elongated members, wherein fluid flow is blocked at the first end by sealing the plurality of areas at the first end with a sealing material and fluid flow is blocked at the second end by sealing the internal cavity of each of the plurality of individual elongated members at the second end with a sealing material, wherein fluid flow through the filter must pass through the filter media.   
   
   
       13 . The non-uniform filter as in  claim 12 , wherein the periphery is kidney shaped. 
   
   
       14 . The non-uniform filter as in  claim 12 , wherein the periphery is circular. 
   
   
       15 . The non-uniform filter as in  claim 12 , wherein the filter is an air filter and the sealing material is an adhesive and each of the plurality of individual elongated members are formed from extruded filter media. 
   
   
       16 . The filter as in  claim 1 , wherein an exterior surface of each of the plurality of separately formed individual elongated members contacts an exterior surface of at least two of the plurality of separately formed individual elongated members. 
   
   
       17 . The filter as in  claim 6 , wherein an exterior surface of each of the plurality of separately formed individual elongated members contacts an exterior surface of at least two of the plurality of separately formed individual elongated members. 
   
   
       18 . The non-uniform filter as in  claim 14 , wherein an exterior surface of each of the plurality of separately formed individual elongated members contacts an exterior surface of at least two of the plurality of separately formed individual elongated members 
   
   
       19 . A method for making a filter, comprising:
 extruding a plurality of separately formed individual elongated filter members from a filter media;   grouping the plurality of separately formed individual elongated filter members into a configuration such that an exterior surface of each of the plurality of separately formed individual elongated members contacts an exterior surface of at least one other of the plurality of separate individual elongated members, the plurality of individual elongated filter members having varying lengths and each of the plurality of individual elongated filter members having a passage extending therethrough;   sealing portions of one end of the filter by sealing areas defined between the exteriors of each of the plurality of individual elongated filter members; and   sealing portions of another end of the filter by sealing the passage of the plurality of individual elongated filter members.   
   
   
       20 . The method as in  claim 19 , wherein an exterior surface of each of the plurality of separately formed individual elongated members contacts an exterior surface of at least two of the plurality of separately formed individual elongated members.