US Patent 7261756 Safety filter element

A filter element for filtering fluids and gasses flowing through a filter housing is provided. The filter element includes a permeable filter media for filtration of contaminants and a rigid frame for supporting and retaining the filter media. To ensure that gasses and fluids flow through the filter media rather than around the filter element, a resilient seal element is attached along an outer peripheral surface of the frame. The seal element can be resiliently compressed between the inner surface of the filter housing and the outer peripheral surface to create a sealing effect therebetween. To prevent the filter media from interfering with the seal element, the filter media is substantially constrained within the outer peripheral surface of the frame.