Housing for holding a filter cartridge having a deformable seal arranged within a joint between a housing shell and cover

The present invention relates to a filter, particularly an air filter for the combustion air of internal combustion engines, in which a filter cartridge is used in such a way that it provides the seal for the housing shells. Further, the invention relates to a sealed housing comprising at least two housing shells, and to filter cartridges suitable for installation in the aforementioned filter. A filter including a housing with a bottom shell () and a cover () for receiving a filter element (). The filter element has a seal () that is made of non-woven material and is also used as a filtering medium. The filter element is clamped in a slot () between clamping ribs () and clamping grooves (). Manufacturing tolerances of the housing parts can thus be compensated over a wide range. This leads to improved economic efficiency in the manufacturing process, especially as regards the production of synthetic resin housings. In addition, the assembly and retaining forces acting between the parts of the housing can be reduced, thereby simplifying the assembly process.