US 11,806,656 B2
Folding air filter assembly and apparatus
Kevin James Barry, Raleigh, NC (US); and Thaddeus Worth Tarkington, Raleigh, NC (US)
Assigned to SECOND NATURE BRANDS, INC., Raleigh, NC (US)
Filed by Second Nature Brands, Inc., Raleigh, NC (US)
Filed on Oct. 5, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/493,916.
Application 17/493,916 is a continuation of application No. 16/454,185, filed on Jun. 27, 2019, granted, now 11,135,541.
Application 16/454,185 is a continuation of application No. 15/251,218, filed on Aug. 30, 2016, granted, now 10,350,533, issued on Jul. 16, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0023793 A1, Jan. 27, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B01D 46/52 (2006.01); B01D 46/10 (2006.01); B01D 46/00 (2022.01)
CPC B01D 46/521 (2013.01) [B01D 46/0001 (2013.01); B01D 46/103 (2013.01); B01D 2265/04 (2013.01); B01D 2275/203 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An air filter apparatus, comprising:
an air filter material panel having a plurality of exterior edges; and
a plurality of flexible seals each along a respective one of the exterior edges of the air filter material panel;
wherein, by flexing the flexible seals, the air filter material panel is foldable along multiple non-parallel axes from an expanded configuration of the air filter apparatus ready for use in an HVAC system to a reduced configuration of the air filter apparatus that is volumetrically reduced relative to the expanded configuration, wherein the air filter material panel is foldable along multiple flexible inserts to reduce the physical dimensions of the air filter apparatus.