A fluid filter includes a cylindrical pleated filter media disposed around
a central perforated support core or self-supporting. An outer support
sleeve comprising a extruded nylon, diamond-shaped mesh is stretched
across the pleated media, and elastically conforms to the pleat peaks to
structurally retain the pleats of the pleat peaks in fixed relation to one
another. A bead of adhesive is then applied over the sleeve to fix the
sleeve to the pleat peaks. End caps are disposed at opposite ends of the
fluid filter.
