Portable air conditioner

A personal portable air conditioner or air purifier with a carrying arrangement, which includes a neck strap (11), delivers conditioned or purified air to the head/facial area of the user. The apparatus consists of a filter/fan unit (8,2), arranged to direct a concentrated flow of conditioned or purified air toward the user's mouth and nose. The filter/fan unit may also be kept secure in its position by a lower belt (FIG. 4) which is included in the carrying arrangement, or for instance by using braces or a tight fitting pocket in a useful position. The filter/fan unit is also equipped with a rapid fastening arrangement, for instance a Velcro/attachment (20), for one or several additional accessories for air regulation included as optional parts of the apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention is a portable air conditioning or air purifying unit for 
persons with health problems due to air quality. These health problems 
include headache, fatigue, depressions, etc. and possibly some types of 
allergic and asthmatic reactions as well. 
2. Discussion of the Background 
To improve air quality there are many devices available. However, most have 
the common disadvantage of purifying air only in the immediate 
surroundings without always securing sufficient purification and 
improvement of air closest to the users head/facial and breathing area. 
Even when using expensive stationary air conditioners and purification 
equipment, users may still breathe polluted and noxious air when for 
instance cigarette smoke comes between the user and the air purifying unit 
Having some health problems due to air pollution, the inventor has been 
experimenting since 1977 making both stationary and portable air 
purifiers. He came to the conclusion that he benefited most when using an 
air purifier dose to his breathing organs. Therefore, he made air 
purifiers smaller and portable, because other purifiers on the market were 
stationary and consequently did not solve the health problems mentioned 
above. 
In a German publication, DE 27 33 729 B 2, a stationary air purifier with a 
combination of ionizer and fan has been presented earlier. This purifier 
does not solve the above mentioned problems as it is stationary. 
The inventor designed several small air purifiers which are portable and 
use a neck strap. He also designed portable ionizers having certain 
similar features as those types which were later patented by others, see 
Norwegian laid-open publication #167246 and international publication #WO 
92116251. According to the inventor's experience, none of these ionizers 
offer a satisfactory solution to health problems like headache, fatigue, 
and other discomfort related to air pollution. This lack of effect also 
seems to be confirmed by doctors that have made investigations in this 
regard. Another disadvantage to ionizers is that they contain a high 
voltage unit and ere surrounded by an electric field which may cause 
discomfort to some persons. Short-term use of ionizers is considered 
acceptable by health professionals, but there are questions concerning 
long-term effects. Experiments show that long-term use of portable 
ionizers close to the body may cause discomfort to susceptible persons. 
The inventor has solved this problem by placing an ionizer to the outside 
of the main apparatus (FIG. 1) so that the electrical field has less 
exposure to the body compared with the portable ionizers mentioned above. 
Also, the inventor has designed additional equipment (optional) in the 
ionizer, inter alia a pot meter which allows the user to adjust the amount 
of ionization to fit individual need. In addition thereto, the inventor 
has an adjustable field regulator in his ionizer, thereby enabling an even 
greater adaptation to personal need. Also included is a lower belt 
attachment which stabilizes the ionizer, avoiding the pendulous movements 
of prior ionizers when walking and in motion. 
In areas having variable and poor air quality, the air will normally 
consist of far more noxious gases and pollutants that can possibly be 
purified by a simple portable or stationary ionizer, because an ionizer 
has a limited range of operation. The inventor has for many years 
constructed and tested prototypes of portable air purifiers, and has come 
to the conclusion that ionizing alone is usually not sufficient. A more 
versatile air purification system is necessary to obtain satisfactory 
results. Obviously, there is a need to focus a multi-filtered stream of 
air directly to the breathing organs from a short distance, using a speed 
regulator. Experience shows that this gives the best health results, 
because the user of such a portable purifier generally gets the health 
advantages of improved air quality no matter where he is residing. Thus, 
there should be a clear demand for an apparatus which offers both 
versatility and adjustability to various user body shapes and health 
problems, i.e. an apparatus incorporating the possibility of individual 
adaptation to the particular user. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In order to solve the above problems for persons sensitive to air 
pollution, there is consequently an obvious need for such a portable 
apparatus offering a better and wider function than the simple principle 
of ionization alone. The need is met by making available an apparatus of 
the type precisely defined in the appended patent claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
FIG. 1 shows a unit consisting of a fan (2) and a filter unit (8). The 
filter unit may comprise of an active carbon filter, a pre-filter (65) and 
a post-filter (66). The fan sucks the air by the rear hatch way (13) and 
through the filters (8,65,66). The air then passes through the fan (2) and 
is thereafter hurled toward the user's respiratory organs. Filters may 
easily be changed by opening the rear hatch way (13) by way of a simple 
rapid coupling system, e.g. a magnet attachment or a screw connection 
(14A). A full disconnection of the rear hatch way (13) is simply done by 
additionally bending outward the tongue like projections below the lower 
belt attachment (22). Pulling out the filter unit (8) and the filter 
cassette (67), makes the NiCd battery (3) and the fan (2) easily 
accessible. By loosening the fan center screw, the motor (1) is accessible 
for lubrication and maintenance. The battery may alternatively be reached 
by an exterior slide hatch as is the case in one of the inventor's 
prototypes. In another alternative, an exterior plug may be mounted for 
charging the battery, running the motor, cooling, electronics, etc. The 
wind direction fins (10) are quite necessary to catch and forward the 
rotating air from the centrifugal fan. The speed regulator (4) is quite 
necessary to obtain an air current of suitable speed from the apparatus. 
The lower belt attachment (22) has a small plug entering into the 
apparatus (FIG. 1) and another plug protruding for attachment of the hoop 
or ring (68) on the lower belt (FIG. 4). Between the rings (68) there is 
an elastic middle strap (69) which makes the hoops clasp firmly on to the 
lower belt attachment (22). This solution also makes it possible to use 
the lower belt invisibly, If the user accepts that the covering clothes 
enter between the belt attachment and the hoop (68). By turning an 
adjustment screw (14A), it is easy to adjust the apparatus so that the 
user receives an adequate flow of air directly toward the nose and mouth. 
The lengths of the lower belt (FIG. 4) and the neck strap (11) are 
adjustable by means of a rear slide buckle, e.g. of the so-called Fastex 
type. Air current exiting from the air duct (26) can be directed toward 
the user's head/facial area with air current steering devices, for example 
adjustment screw 14A, notches or tooth edged adjustment pin 14B, 
electromotor 50 to direct airflow sideways, electromotor 51 to direct 
airflow backward and forward, detectors 52 and 53, control electronics 55, 
bevel wheel control 57, side directional fin 56, magnetic swift lock 58, 
and manually adjustable directing fin 64. See also FIG. 6. In one 
embodiment, the air current steering device includes an electronic control 
means including, detectors (52, 53) for detecting head movement of the 
user and controllable devices, including electromotor 51 to direct airflow 
backward and forward, side directional fin 56, bevel wheel control 57 and 
magnetic swift lock 58, in or by an air outlet orifice for changing air 
fanning direction. In other embodiments, the air current steering devices 
include a manually adjustable means for channeling a flow of air towards 
the desired area, for instance a manually adjustable directing fin 64 
(FIG. 14) or a flexible swan's neck (FIG. 5), both having a base 
attachable at the top of the apparatus by the use of a VELCRO attachment 
(20), a magnetic attachment or other rapid fastening arrangement. The air 
current steering device may include a flexible and elastic air duct (59) 
attached by means of a quick fastening arrangement, for instance a VELCRO 
attachment (20) to the filter/fan unit 60 (FIG. 12), and a mask which 
covers the nose and mouth (FIG. 12), optionally also the eyes (FIG. 13). 
Most people have an indent in the middle of the chest due to the shape of 
the rib cage. The middle of the rear hatch (13) on the apparatus may have 
a convex shape corresponding to the indent of the rib cage. The lower belt 
(FIG. 4) pulls the apparatus against the indent to stabilize it's 
position. This solution offers more room for the filter unit (8) as well 
as counteracting pendulous movements of the apparatus when in motion. In 
one embodiment, the housing of the filter/fan unit includes an adjustable 
sloping rear hatch (FIG. 1, 13), adaptable to the user's chest angle and 
posture, by e.g., an adjustable screw (14A), notches or tooth edged 
adjustable pin (14B) arranged at the top or bottom of the apparatus for 
adjustment of the angle of the rear hatch. 
The cooler and humidifier units (FIG. 2 and FIG. 7) may have a grating and 
or a pipe system for cooling and humidifying the air when it passes the 
air duct (26) on the top of the apparatus. Filters arranged in series (8) 
may comprise both of active carbon filters, electrostatic filters, and 
other filter types which contribute to the removal of harmful gases and 
particles, thereby improving the air for respiration. In one embodiment, 
the cooling/humidifying unit includes a thermoelectric cooling unit which 
can be fastened to the filter/fan unit by a VELCRO attachment (20), 
magnets or other quick fastening arrangement. In another embodiment, the 
cooling/humidifying unit may include a cooling means based on refrigerated 
material, for instance ice, dry ice or the like. In another embodiment, 
the cooling/humidifying unit consists of an outside insulated covering 
case (61), the interior cooling sheath (62) of the covering case having a 
shape adapted to the exterior shape of the filter/fan unit or, optionally 
to the exterior shape of the filter/fan unit when a further air 
influencing unit is attached thereto. The filter/fan unit may include a 
filter (8) optionally consisting of several partial filters of various 
types arranged in series, close to an air inlet (63), and a fan (2) which 
may be of a centrifugal or propeller type. 
The electronic auto control unit (50-58) consists inter alia of: 
An electromotor (50) to direct the air flow sideways when the user is 
turning his head to the side. An electromotor (51) to direct the air flow 
backward and forward. 
Detectors (52,53), control electronics (55), a bevel wheel control (57), 
side directional fin (56), magnetic swift lock (58). 
In a further embodiment, the filter/fan unit may include further air 
influencing units such as an ionizing unit (FIG. 3 and FIG. 8). The 
ionizing unit (FIG. 3) ionizes the air departing the apparatus and is 
easily attachable as a front part of the apparatus by means of a VELCRO 
attachment (20), magnetic attachment, or other rapid fastening 
arrangement. In this way, the ionizing unit is placed as far away from the 
user's body as practically possible, optionally, by having a smaller 
ionizing unit (FIG. 8) influencing the air and being correspondingly 
attachable as a top part of the apparatus. The ionizing unit is adjustable 
(17) regarding the amount of ionization, and optionally, includes 
directional adjustment of outgoing ions (18).