FILTERS, SUPPORTS FOR FILTERS, AND METHODS OF PRODUCING FILTERS HAVING SUPPORTS

1 . A multi-layered filter assembly comprising:

a filter media comprising at least one of wool, viscose, and thermoplastic polymer material;

a supporting layer proximate to the filter media comprising at least one of a mesh, a frame, and a thin board;

a retaining member configured to engage the filter media and the supporting layer to hold the filter media and supporting layer together.

2 . The filter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the supporting layer is sandwiched between two or more layers of the filter media.

3 . The filter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the filter media comprises multiple layers of blended fibers with one or more of the layers treated with a fire resistant additive.

4 . The filter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the mesh comprises at least one of fiberglass, viscose, cotton, mineral fiber, and metal.

5 . The filter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the mesh is fire resistant.

6 . The filter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the retaining member is configured to engage with an opening in the filter media.

7 . The filter assembly of claim 6 , wherein the filter media comprises a length and a width and the retaining member extends along the width direction.

8 . The filter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the retaining member is configured to engage with a handle at each of opposite ends of the filter assembly such that a retaining force is applied to the filter media.

9 . The filter assembly of claim 8 , wherein the filter media comprises a length and a width and the retaining member extends along the length direction.

10 . The filter assembly of claim 9 , wherein an opening is formed in each of opposite ends in the length direction of the filter media, each opening configured to accommodate a portion of each handle, respectively.

11 . The filter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the thin board comprises at least one of fiberboard, metal, and resin.

12 . The filter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the retaining member comprises a central portion and a clip portion at each of opposite ends of the central portion.

13 . The filter assembly of claim 12 , wherein the clip portion comprises a portion that extends from the central portion to form an angle with the central portion.

14 . A method of manufacturing a multi-layered filter assembly comprising:

carding fibers into a web to form a filter media comprising at least one of wool, viscose, and thermoplastic polymer material;

coupling the filter media with a supporting layer comprising at least one of a mesh, a frame, and a thin board,

wherein the coupling comprises at least one of gluing, sewing, or needling in a needle loom; and

trimming or punching the coupled filter media and supporting layer to a predetermined size.

15 . The method of manufacturing of claim 14 , further comprising:

treating at least one of the filter media and the supporting layer with a fire resistant additive.

16 . The method of manufacturing of claim 15 , wherein the treating comprises at least one of a chemical bath and a spray application.

17 . The method of manufacturing of claim 14 , wherein the coupling comprises placing the supporting layer between two or more layers of the filter media.

18 . The method of manufacturing of claim 14 , wherein the filter media comprises multiple layers of blended fibers with one or more of the layers treated with a fire resistant additive.

19 . The method of manufacturing of claim 14 , wherein the mesh comprises at least one of fiberglass, viscose, cotton, mineral fiber, and metal.

20 . The method of manufacturing of claim 14 , wherein the thin board comprises at least one of fiberboard, metal, and resin.