Further, in the air cleaner, the first protective member may be a prefilter for the chemical filter, and the second protective member may be a prefilter for the filter element.

With this configuration, relatively large foreign matter entering from the inlet abuts with the prefilter (the first protective member) first, so that it is possible to restrain the chemical filter from deforming. Further, dust in the air is removed to some extent by the prefilter (the first protective member), so that it is possible to restrain the chemical filter from clogging. Hereby, it is possible to further restrain an increase of pressure loss of the chemical filter.

Similarly, particulate matter and the like passing through the chemical filter are removed to some extent by the prefilter (the second protective member), so that it is possible to restrain the filter element from clogging.

Further, in the air cleaner, the case may be formed such that a case member on the inlet side is fitted to a case member on the outlet side, and the filter element may be fixed to the case such that an outer peripheral edge of the filter element is sandwiched between the case member on the inlet side and the case member on the outlet side.

With this configuration, the air cleaner can be assembled by a simple operation of setting the first protective member, the chemical filter, and the second protective member in the case member on the inlet side so as to be locked with the locking projection and sandwiching the filter element between the case member on the inlet side and the case member on the outlet side.

Further, in the air cleaner, the filter element may be a charged filter.