Reusable air filter system and method

Abstract

A reusable air filter and methods are provided for filtering air being conducted to an air intake of an internal combustion engine. The reusable air filter comprises a filter medium configured to pass an airstream and entrap particulates flowing within the airstream. The filter medium is comprised of cotton gauze disposed in a sinusoidal arrangement that provides a filtration surface area that is larger than a perimeter area of the filter medium. An end cap and base may be configured to retain the filter medium therebetween. The base provides an interface between the air filter and an air inlet of the engine. The filter medium may be disposed in a flat, panel shape that is bordered by a supportive tray. Support rods may be embedded within the tray to prevent bowing of the tray due to air pressure when coupled with an air box of the engine.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A reusable air filter for filtering air being conducted to an air intake of an internal combustion engine, comprising:
 a filter medium configured to pass an airstream and entrap particulates flowing within the airstream; and   an end cap and a base configured to retain the filter medium therebetween.   
     
     
         2 . The reusable air filter of  claim 1 , wherein the filter medium is comprised of one or more layers of cotton gauze that are disposed into a sinusoidal arrangement comprising a series of peaks and troughs so as to provide a filtration surface area that is larger than a perimeter area of the filter medium. 
     
     
         3 . The reusable air filter of  claim 1 , wherein the filter medium comprises a cube shape having waved sides to optimally occupy an interior volume of an air box. 
     
     
         4 . The reusable air filter of  claim 1 , wherein the filter medium comprises any one of a cylindrical shape and a cone shape, and wherein the end cap is configured to enclose an interior of the reusable air filter and direct the airstream to the filter medium. 
     
     
         5 . The reusable air filter of  claim 1 , wherein the base is configured to support the air filter and provide an interface between the air filter and an air inlet of the internal combustion engine. 
     
     
         6 . The reusable air filter of  claim 5 , wherein the interface is comprised of an inlet receiver configured to be coupled with any of an intake pipe, a turbocharger, and a manifold of the internal combustion engine. 
     
     
         7 . The reusable air filter of  claim 5 , wherein the base comprises any of a variety of ridges and raised portions to optimally engage with the air inlet. 
     
     
         8 . A reusable air filter for filtering air being conducted to an air intake of an internal combustion engine, comprising:
 a filter medium configured to pass an airstream and entrap particulates flowing within the airstream; and   a tray configured to supportively retain the filter medium.   
     
     
         9 . The reusable air filter of  claim 8 , wherein the filter medium is comprised of one or more layers of cotton gauze that are disposed into a sinusoidal arrangement comprising a series of peaks and troughs so as to provide a filtration surface area that is larger than a perimeter area of the filter medium. 
     
     
         10 . The reusable air filter of  claim 8 , wherein the filter medium comprises a series of peaks and troughs, and wherein the troughs are wider than the peaks such that the peaks offer relatively little resistance to the airstream and the troughs provide a relatively large filtration surface area to capture particulate matter. 
     
     
         11 . The reusable air filter of  claim 8 , wherein the tray is configured to support the air filter within an air box that is coupled with an air inlet of the internal combustion engine, the air inlet being any of an intake pipe, a turbocharger, and a manifold of the internal combustion engine. 
     
     
         12 . The reusable air filter of  claim 8 , wherein the tray comprises rounded edges disposed at corner portions of any one of a square shape, a rectangle shape, and a trapezoid shape. 
     
     
         13 . The reusable air filter of  claim 8 , wherein the tray comprises a lip configured to establish an airtight seal with a mounting surface disposed within an air box that is coupled with an air inlet of the internal combustion engine. 
     
     
         14 . The reusable air filter of  claim 8 , further comprising support rods that are embedded within the material comprising the tray and configured to prevent the sides of the tray from bowing under air pressure when coupled with an air box of the internal combustion engine. 
     
     
         15 . A method for a reusable air filter for filtering air being conducted to an air intake of an internal combustion engine, comprising:
 configuring a cleanable filter medium to entrap particulates flowing within an airstream;   forming the cleanable filter medium into a shape that facilitates coupling the reusable air filter with an air box, such that an entirety of the airstream is passed through the filter medium;   contouring the cleanable filter medium to provide a filtration surface area that is larger than an area of the shape; and   coupling the filter medium with one or more support structures that maintain the shape of the filter medium.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein forming further comprises forming the cleanable filter medium into any one of a cylindrical shape, a cone shape, and a cube shape having waved sides. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein coupling further comprises implementing the support structures as an end cap and a base that is configured to couple with an air inlet of the internal combustion engine, the air inlet being any of an intake pipe, a turbocharger, and a manifold of the internal combustion engine. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein forming further comprises forming the cleanable filter medium into any one of a square shape, a rectangle shape, and a trapezoid shape. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein coupling further comprises implementing the support structures as a tray configured to support the air filter within an air box that is coupled with an air inlet of the internal combustion engine, the air inlet being any of an intake pipe, a turbocharger, and a manifold of the internal combustion engine. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein coupling further comprises embedding support rods within the material comprising the tray to prevent the sides of the tray from bowing under air pressure when coupled with an air box of the internal combustion engine.