referring now to the drawings , an air cleaner assembly generally indicated by the numeral 10 includes a housing generally indicated by the numeral 12 consisting of a pair of substantially identical inlet covers 14 , 16 and an outlet body 18 . the outlet body 18 defines an outlet chamber 20 therewithin communicating with a tubular outlet opening 22 . tubular outlet opening 22 is adapted for mounting on a conventional inlet pipe connected to the induction air inlet of an internal combustion engine ( not shown ). the outlet body 18 includes opposite surfaces 24 , 25 which defines a pair of opposed filter element support areas 26 and 28 on opposite sides of the outlet body 18 . a pair of filter elements 30 , 32 are supported on the support areas 26 , 28 respectively . each of the filter elements are panel filter elements consisting of a longitudinally extending array of taperer pleats 34 . each of the pleats 34 extend between tips 36 , which cooperate to define the upstream side of the filter elements 30 , 32 , and tips 38 , which cooperate to define the downstream or outlet side of the filter elements 30 , 32 . openings 40 are provided in the outer surfaces 24 on the opposite sides of the outlet body 18 to communicate the downstream side of the filter elements 30 , 32 with the outlet chamber 20 . each of the filter elements 30 , 32 includes a seal comprising a perimetrically extending band of sealing material 42 , 44 which is compressed into sealing engagement with corresponding sealing support surfaces 46 , 48 on the outer surfaces 24 , 25 as will hereinafter be described . each of the inlet covers 14 , 16 cooperate with the upstream side of a corresponding one of the filter elements 30 , 32 to define corresponding inlet chambers 50 , 52 . the cover members 14 , 16 include an outwardly tapering wall 51 , 53 which taper away from the outlet body 18 , and which terminate in an inwardly tapering portion 54 , 56 , which taper toward the outlet body 18 . inlet openings 58 are provided in the inwardly tapering walls 54 , 56 , to communicate ambient air into the corresponding inlet chambers 50 , 52 which are defined by the corresponding walls 51 , 54 and 53 , 56 and the upstream side of the corresponding filter elements 30 , 32 . the inlet covers 14 , 16 further include cooperating side wall portions 64 , 66 which are joined together by fastening means generally indicated by the numeral 68 . the fastening means 68 consists of a barbed finger 70 which extends from one of the inlet covers 14 , 16 , and which is received in a recess 72 which is defined by a projecting wall 74 on the other of the inlet covers 14 , 16 . as can be seen in fig2 the projecting wall 74 is provided with an engagement surface 76 which locking engages the barb 78 on the finger 70 . an important feature of the invention is that each of the inlet covers 14 , 16 includes both recesses and fingers , and that these recesses and fingers are arranged symmetrically about the axis of the outlet opening 22 , as extended through the housing 12 . for example , in referring to fig1 the fastening means 68a each have their finger 70 on the cover 16 with the corresponding recess 72 defined by wall 74 on the other cover . the fastening means labeled 68b in fig1 are reversed such that the finger is on the cover 14 . accordingly , because of the symmetrical arrangement , the covers 14 , 16 are identical , with the cover merely being reversed if it is used on the opposite side of the outlet body 18 . each of the seals 42 , 44 include a projecting portion 80 , 82 which extends beyond the corresponding edge of the corresponding filter element 30 or 32 . each of the inlet cover members includes a seal engaging portion 84 , 86 which engages the portion 80 , 82 of the seals and clamps them against its corresponding seal supporting surface 46 , 48 . accordingly , when the air cleaner 10 is assembled , the filter elements 30 , 32 are placed upon their corresponding surfaces 24 , 25 , and the inlet covers are placed in their positions with the portions 84 , 86 engaging the portion 82 of the seals . pressure is then applied to both inlet covers , forcing the fingers 70 into the recesses 72 until the barb 78 engages the corresponding surfaces 76 . the inlet covers 14 , 16 are dimensioned so that , when the barb 78 engages surface 76 , the portions 84 , 86 exert substantial compressive pressure against the sealing seals 46 , 48 . this not only assures that the seals are maintained into sealing engagement with the outlet body 18 , but the inherent resiliency of the seals also exerts a biasing force urging the barb 78 into locking engagement with the locking surface 76 , thereby preventing the covers from coming loose from one another due to normal vibrations of the engine upon which the air filter 10 is installed . when the air filter 10 is installed in the engine , the air induction pipe is normally vertical . accordingly , when the tubular outlet opening is installed on the induction pipe , the tapering wall 50 is arranged so that rain or other particulate contaminants will be deflected away from the inlet openings 54 , 56 , thereby preventing undue moisture from being drawn in from the air induction pipe ( not shown ). in operation , engine suction causes communication of ambient air through the openings 54 , 56 and through the filtering elements 30 , 32 , where the contaminant particles entrained therein are removed . the induction air then communicates through the openings 40 into the outlet chamber 20 and then through the tubular outlet opening 22 into the engine induction pipe .