A self-supporting, pleated filter, and method of making the same. The
method includes forming a plurality of pleats in a filter media that
extend along a front face and a rear face. The pleats include a plurality
of pleat tips and sloping side surfaces generally perpendicular to the
direction of pleating. At least one planar reinforcing strip oriented in
the direction of pleating is bonded to the pleat tips on the front face.
At least one reinforcing member is positioned along the rear face of the
filter media. The filter media is then cut to size. Frame members are
applied for some applications. The reinforcing member may be a
reinforcing strip oriented in the direction of pleating and bonded to the
rear face of the filter media prior to the step of forming the plurality
of pleats. A second planar reinforcing strip may optionally be bonded to
the reinforcing strip pleat tips. The reinforcing member, the first
reinforcing strip and the second reinforcing strip can be aligned to form
a truss structure. Alternatively, reinforcing strips oriented
perpendicular to the direction of pleating are bonded to the rear face of
the filter media prior to the step of forming the pleats. In another
embodiment, a reinforcing member is applied to the rear face of the
filter media after the pleats have been formed. The reinforcing member is
positioned along at least one of the sloping side surfaces of the pleats
on the rear face in a direction perpendicular to the direction of
pleating. In another embodiment, a scrim is positioned along the rear
face of the filter media. The scrim can be bonded to the frame members,
the filter media and/or a portion of the frame members extend over a
perimeter of the scrim to secure it to the pleated filter.