Abstract:
Systems are described for use in removing toxic airborne contaminants from a waxing environment where wax is being applied to sporting equipment. The systems include a base, at least one platform coupled to the base and an airflow generator. The at least one platform is configured to securely receive sporting equipment to be waxed. Each platform includes a first surface that is in contact with the waxing environment, an opposing second surface and at least one opening that extends between the first and second surfaces of each platform. The airflow generator is configured to generate an airflow for pulling harmful airborne contaminants through the at least one opening in each platform in a direction from the first surface to the second surface.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is based on and claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/975,922, filed Sep. 28, 2007, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Fluoropolymers are widely used in industry for a variety of applications. Example applications include mechanical and electrical components; fiberoptics; as a non-stick agent in the manufacturing of cooking utensils and as oil, water and stain repellents in upholstery production. Inhalation of airborne fumes during manufacturing of any of the example applications can cause polymer flume fever. Within hours of exposure to airborne fumes, symptoms of polymer flume fever can include dyspnoea, pyrexia, nausea, vomiting, unproductive cough, pulmonary edema, peripheral blood leucocytosis, hypoxaemia, alveolitis and alveolar collapse. Within days of exposure, reactive airway dysfunction and acute respiratory distress syndrome can occur. 
     Hydrocarbon based waxes are commonly used in ski waxes. Oftentimes the hydrocarbons are used alone or together in combination with fluorocarbons and other chemical products to reduce the friction between the sporting device and the surface with which it makes contact (snow, water, etc). For example, waxes are often applied to equipment for use in skiing, boarding, bobsledding, rowing, sailing and etc. When wax is applied to sporting equipment, release of the hydrocarbon molecules creates an environment similar to that of smoking. Hydrocarbon levels in these environments are several hundred times more than the acceptable safe limits for inhalation (based on governmental industrial hygiene standards). 
     Application of waxes to sporting equipment is generally accomplished through application of heat, such as by iron, torch, hot air and etc. Oftentimes, overheating of waxes can occur when applying the waxes to sporting equipment. If waxes containing fluropolymers are overheated, the molecular bond of the fluoropolymer breaks down and a fluorine ion becomes airborne. Free airborne fluorine is toxic and carcinogenic. 
     In general, application of fluoropolymer and hydrocarbon waxes are accomplished by individuals and/or wax technicians in enclosed spaces in various environments, such as individuals&#39; homes, equipment rental businesses, huts located near recreational areas where the equipment is used and at major sporting competitions, such as the Olympics and World Cup events. In a typical competition scenario, each team is given an enclosed space for applying waxes to their equipment. This space (often an individual room) is an area that is separated from other teams. Privacy in regard to waxing techniques and products are highly desirable and necessary for each team so as to protect individual team waxing strategies. Therefore, a typical wax environment has athletes and wax technicians from the same team sharing the same enclosed space. 
     At this time, very few international enclosed spaces for waxing have ventilation systems. However, sometimes these enclosed spaces are supplied with a conventional updraft exhaust system. Updraft exhaust systems simply draw toxins into the breathing path of the wax technician and out into an environment external to the wax application environment. Since fluoropolymer particles degrade to produce phosgene, fluorine, hydrofluoric acid and other toxic byproducts, wax fumes are mostly invisible, odorless and tasteless. The wax technician is only aware of the removal of other airborne particles, such as hydrocarbons or smoke, which are toxic in of themselves. 
     These conventional exhaust systems have proven to remove a high percentage of hydrocarbons as can be seen with the naked eye, however, it is unknown how effective the updraft exhaust system is in removing invisible, odorless and tasteless particles that are also toxic. In particular, it is unknown how effective an updraft exhaust system is in removing fluorine ion particles, which are heavier than ambient air. In addition the external exhausting of these particles poses a substantial health and environmental risk to persons and wildlife in the vicinity of the exhaust ports. Although wax technicians could use respirators when applying fluoropolymer waxes, respirators are cumbersome, hot, uncomfortable and visually impair one&#39;s ability to see work in detail. The respirators are also often not maintained adequately in terms of frequency of cartridge filtration changes so as to render them effectively useless. Respirators are also are not fitted properly or maintained in a manner that effectively protects a user. 
     The discussion above is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments describe removing toxic airborne contaminants from a waxing environment where wax is being applied to sporting equipment. Systems include a base, at least one platform coupled to the base and an airflow generator, such as a fan. The at least one platform is configured to securely receive sporting equipment to be waxed. Each platform includes a first surface that is in contact with the waxing environment, an opposing second surface and at least one opening that extends between the first and second surfaces of each platform. The airflow generator is configured to generate an airflow for pulling harmful airborne contaminants through the at least one opening in each platform in a direction from the first surface to the second surface. 
     These and various other features and advantages will be apparent from a reading of the following Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. The claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in the background. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a wax application system under one embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of a wax application system under another embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom perspective view of the wax application system in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the wax application system illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a front view of the wax application system illustrated in  FIGS. 2-4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a top perspective view of a wax application system under another embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a top perspective view of the wax application system illustrated in  FIG. 6  including sporting equipment. 
         FIG. 8  is a top perspective view of a wax application system under another embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  is a top perspective view of the wax application system illustrated in  FIG. 8  including sporting equipment. 
         FIG. 10  is a front view of a wax table for use in a central pollution control system under one embodiment. 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic block diagram illustrating a central pollution control system under one embodiment. 
         FIG. 12  is a schematic block diagram illustrating a central pollution control system under another embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the disclosure pertain to a point of use system and a centralized system for removing toxic airborne particles, which are bi-products of applying fluoropolymer, hydrocarbon and other friction reducing agents, in waxing applications. For example, one type of waxing application includes applying wax to various types of sporting equipment. In a point of use system, each wax application station is provided with its own internal system for removing toxic airborne particles. In a centralized system, many wax application stations are coupled to a single system for removing toxic airborne particles. In one type of centralized system, a single room could be serviced. In another type of centralized system, an entire facility including multiple rooms could be serviced. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a top plan view of a wax application system  100  configured to receive at least one piece of sporting equipment under one embodiment. Wax application system  100  has a wax table  101  that includes at least one platform  102  for use in either a point-of-use system or for a centralized system to remove toxic airborne particles. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , wax application system  100  includes a pair of platforms  102 . However, it should be realized that wax application system  100  can include a single platform or any number of platforms. 
     Each platform  102  is configured to receive sporting equipment. For example, each platform can receive a pair of skis, such as downhill, Nordic, Telemark, water or other type of ski. Of course, other types of sporting equipment can also be received by each platform  102 , such as various types of sleds, boards, boats and etc. 
     Each platform  102  includes a plurality of openings or perforations  106 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the perforations  106  are positioned in a grid-like pattern. However, it should be realized that platform  102  can include perforations  106  in any type of format, such as a random format or other type of deliberate format. Perforations  106  are inlets for receiving toxic airborne particles and contaminants that loosen from the wax used in waxing sporting equipment. 
     Wax application system  100  also includes a concave portion  108  adjacent the at least one platform  102 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , concave portion is located between the pair of platforms  102 . In one embodiment, concave portion  108  can act as a storage area for storing various types of accessories, which a wax technician would need in order to apply wax to sporting equipment. Example accessories include irons or other heat producing tools, wax, sport equipment cleaner, wax remover and etc. As illustrated in  FIG. 1  embodiment, concave portion  108  can include a vented iron holder  109  for retaining and holding an iron for waxing. However, the vented iron holder  109  can be located in other position on wax table  101 . For example, vented iron holder  109  can be place at either end of wax table  101  or on either side of wax table  101 . In another embodiment, concave portion  108  can act as a waste disposal site for collecting wax scrapings after the wax is removed during the process of waxing sporting equipment. 
     Although not illustrated in  FIG. 1 , wax application system  100  can also include various attachable accessories to platforms  102 . For example, some accessories that are not particularly illustrated in  FIG. 1  include a wax holder (such as a wax holder in the form of a storage drawer), an enhancement light for better illuminating the work area, a drink holder, outlets, shields for attaching to the platform or sporting equipment to direct wax particles into concave portion  108  and etc. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a top perspective view of a wax application system  200  including a wax table  201  and  FIG. 3  illustrates a bottom perspective view of wax application system  200  including wax table  201  under one embodiment.  FIGS. 2 and 3  are illustrative of a point-of-use system for removing toxic airborne particles or contaminants during the process of applying wax to sporting equipment. Similar to  FIG. 1 , wax application system  200  includes wax table  201  having a pair of platforms  202 , a plurality of perforations  206  in the platforms  202  and a concave portion  208 . Unlike the illustration of  FIG. 1 , the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2  includes a base  212 . 
     Base  212  includes a plurality of components for removing toxic airborne contaminants from the work area of the wax application system  200 . In wax application system  200 , the work area, for example, is platform  202  or an area near platform  202 . The side view of wax application system  200  in  FIG. 4  specifically illustrates the components for removing the toxic airborne contaminants, which are in dashed lines. Base  212  includes a plenum  218 , a blower fan  220 , a pollution control device  222  and at least one filter  224 . 
     Plenum  218  receives an airstream  226  contaminated with toxic airborne particles through perforations  206  ( FIG. 2 ) in platform  202 . The airstream  226  is evacuated down and through perforations  206  in platform  202  by blower fan  220 . In other words, blower fan  222  evacuates the airstream  226  contaminated by toxic airborne particles down and away from a wax technician who is applying wax to sporting equipment  210 . In one embodiment, blower fan  220  can be an axial fan that is able to create a venturi “exhaust.” Such a fan is suitable for a system where the distance from inlet source (i.e., perforations  206  in platform  202 ) to a clean airstream outlet is short. Such is the case in a point-of-use system as illustrated in  FIGS. 2-4 . 
     After exiting plenum  218 , the airstream  226  that is contaminated by toxic airborne particles enters an air pollution control device  222  for removing the toxic particulates. In one embodiment, air pollution control device  222  can be a wet scrubber, such as a water outlet seal scrubber. In general, a wet scrubber uses a liquid to scrub unwanted particles from a gas stream. In an alternative embodiment, air pollution control device  222  can be a dry scrubber. Regardless of the type of scrubber, air pollution control device  22  should allow for maximum capture of toxic airborne particles, of which scrubbers are good examples. 
     To wet scrub, toxic airborne particles are contacted with a wet scrubbing solution. Solutions can be as simple as water or can be complex solutions of reagents that specifically target certain types of particles. For example, the wet scrubbing solution can be a reagent that specifically targets fluorine ions. The removal efficiency of a wet scrubber improves by increasing the amount of time the airstream is in the scrubber or by increasing a surface area of the scrubber solution by using a spray nozzle, packed tower objects or an aspirator. A dry or semi-dry scrubbing system, unlike the wet scrubber, does not saturate with moisture while the flue gas stream is being treated. In some cases no moisture is added, while in other cases, only the amount of moisture that can be evaporated in the gas stream without condensing is added. Therefore, dry scrubbers do not have the wastewater handling or disposal requirements as does a wet scrubber. 
     After the airstream  226  has been treated by air pollution control device  222 , the airstream  226  is allowed to exit to the wax application environment through another air pollution control device, at least one filter  224 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , wax application system  200  includes a pair of filters  224 . A pair of filters allows two clean airstreams  228  to exit back into the environment where waxing is being performed in two different outputs. As better illustrated in the front of view of wax application system  200  in  FIG. 5 , filter  224  is exposed to the environment in which waxing is being performed. 
     In one embodiment, filters  224  are HEPA (high efficiency particulate air filter). This type of air filter can remove at least 99.97% of airborne particles 0.3 μm in diameter. Particles of this size are the most difficult to filter. Particles that are larger or smaller are filtered with an even higher efficiency. Other types of filters can be used for filters  224 . In another embodiment, filters  224  can be UPLA (ultra low penetration air filter). An ULPA filter can theoretically remove at least 99.999% of dust, pollen, mold, bacteria and any airborne particles with a size of 0.12 μm or larger from an airstream. 
     The clean airstreams  228  exit the filters  224  and enter back into the wax application environment. Wax application system  200  allows all exhausted air that was pulled down and away from the wax technician to be returned into the wax application environment. Such a system brings considerable efficiency to an air management system because very little to no make up air is needed. The capacity for the wax application environment to be reconditioned by heating or cooling is greatly minimized. In addition, by returning all exhausted air into the wax application environment, people and wildlife that could be exposed to externally exhausted air that is blown out of such environments are protected. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a top perspective view of wax application system  300  including a wax table  301  under another embodiment. In the  FIG. 6  embodiment, wax application system  300  include wax table  301 , which is similar to wax table  201 . However, in wax application system  300 , coupled to each platform  302  is a support structure  230  for supporting sporting equipment to be waxed. On one of the two platforms  302 , the support structure  330  includes a ski support structure  332 . Ski support structure  332  is configured to support a pair of skis for waxing. On the other of the two platforms  302 , the support structure  330  includes a snowboard support structure  334 . Snowboard support structure  334  is configured to support a snowboard for waxing. 
     Each of support structures  330  is removable from platforms  302 . Therefore, in one embodiment, it is possible for sporting equipment to be waxed on wax table  301  without the need for support structures  330 . In other embodiments, ski support structure  332  and snowboard support structure can be swapped such that platform  302  can both be coupled to ski support structures  332  or both be coupled to snowboard support structures  334 . 
     Ski support structure  332  includes a first support block  336  and a second support block  338 . Both first and second support blocks  336  and  338  include tracks  340  for holding skis. Tracks  340  are recessed from a raised top surface  342  on each block by a surface  348 . Each track  340  includes a corresponding clamp  344 . Each clamp  344  includes a guide  346 . A ski is placed on support blocks  336  and  338  between surface  348  and guide  346 . The distance in which guide  346  is spaced apart from an edge of block  336  or  338  depends on the width of a ski and can be adjusted to accommodate different ski widths. Clamp  344  provides a force to push an edge of a ski into surface  348  to hold each ski in place. As illustrated in the top perspective view of wax application system  300  in  FIG. 7 , each guide  346  of each clamp  344  pushes each ski  350  into each surface  348  that defines a track  340  to hold the ski in place. 
     Interior beams  352  extend between first support block  336  and second support block  338  and include openings  354  that can accommodate a binding on a ski. Exterior beams  356  extend outwardly from outer ends of both support block  336  and  338  and are shaped in accordance with each end of a ski. Both interior beams  352  and exterior beams  354  provide additional support to skis  350  when waxing. In addition, interior beams  352  and exterior beams  356  include deflectors along the edge of beams  352  and  356 . For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the cantilevered end of exterior beam  356  is enlarged to illustrate deflectors  357 . Each beam  354  and  356  includes can include a deflector  357  that is formed with the edges of beams  354  and  356  and protrudes from a surface of the beam towards the ski with which it supports. In addition, support blocks  336  and  338  can include an edge deflector. Deflectors  357  provide protection in the case where a user uses powdered wax stock. Deflectors prevent powder from being sucked through perforations in wax  301  table by the downdraft system prior to the user having the chance to heat the powders for application to the surface of the sporting equipment. Deflectors  357  can have a squared shape (as is illustrated in  FIG. 6 ), a radius of curavature or other type of shape. 
     Snowboard support structure  334  includes a single support block  358 . Support block  358  includes a pair of protrusions  360 . Protrusions  360  are raised from a top surface  362  on support block  358 . Coupled to support block  358  includes a clamp  364 . Each clamp  364  includes a guide  366 . A snowboard is placed on support block  358  between protrusions  360  and guide  366 . The distance in which guide  346  are spaced apart from an edge of block  358  depends on the width of the snowboard and can be adjusted to accommodate different snowboard widths. Clamp  364  provides a force to push an edge of the snowboard into protrusions  360  to hold the snowboard in place. As illustrated in the top perspective view of wax application system  300  in  FIG. 7 , guide  366  of clamp  364  pushes snowboard  368  into protrusions  360  to hold snowboard  368  in place. 
     At each end of support block  358 , exterior beams  370  extend outwardly from support block  358 . Exterior beams  370  are shaped in accordance with each end of a snowboard. Beams  370  provide additional support to snowboard  368  when waxing. As discussed above, exterior beams  370  can include deflectors along the edge of beams  370 . Each deflector is formed with the edges of beams  370  and protrudes from a surface of the beam towards the board with which it supports. In addition, support block  358  can also include an edge deflector. Deflectors  357  provide protection in the case where a user uses powdered wax stock. Deflectors prevent powder from being sucked through perforations in wax  301  table by the downdraft system prior to the user having the chance to heat the powders for application to the surface of the sporting equipment. Deflectors  357  can have a squared shape, a radius of curavature or other type of shape. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a top perspective view of wax application system  400  including a wax table  401  under another embodiment. In the  FIG. 8  embodiment, wax application system  400  includes wax table  401 , which is similar to wax tables  201  and  301 . However, in wax application system  400 , coupled to one of the platforms  402  are a first support block  436  and a second support block  438  for supporting sporting equipment to be waxed. The first and second support blocks  436  and  438  are for supporting skis  450  as illustrated in  FIG. 9 . Coupled to the other of the two platforms  402  is a single support block  458  to support a snowboard for waxing. 
     Both first and second support blocks  436  and  438  include tracks  440  for holding skis. Tracks  440  are recessed from a raised top surface  442  on each block by a surface  448 . Each track  440  includes a corresponding clamp  444 . Each clamp  444  includes a guide  446 . The distance in which guide  446  are spaced apart from an edge of block  436  or  438  depends on the width of a ski and can be adjusted to accommodate different ski widths. Clamp  444  provides a force to push an edge of a ski into surface  448  to hold each ski in place. As illustrated in the top perspective view of wax application system  400  in  FIG. 9 , each guide  446  of each clamp  444  pushes each ski  450  into each surface  448  that defines each track  440  to hold each ski in place. 
     Support block  458  includes a pair of protrusions  460 . Protrusions  460  are raised from a top surface  462  on support block  458 . Coupled to support block  458  includes a clamp  464 . Each clamp  464  includes a guide  466 . The distance in which guide  446  are spaced apart from an edge of block  458  depends on the width of the snowboard and can be adjusted to accommodate different snowboard widths. Clamp  464  provides a force to push an edge of the snowboard into protrusions  460  to hold the snowboard in place. As illustrated in the top perspective view of wax application system  400  in  FIG. 9 , guide  466  of clamp  464  pushes snowboard  468  into protrusions  460  to hold snowboard  468  in place. 
     It should be realized that the clamps illustrated in  FIGS. 5-9  are exemplary. Other types of clamps and vises can be used to support and secure sporting equipment to the platforms of the wax table or to the support blocks as illustrated. For example, some types of clamps or vises have integrally formed supports for sporting equipment. These types of clamps or vises can be used in combination the platforms or support blocks to retain the sporting equipment. 
       FIG. 10  is a front view of wax table  501  under yet another embodiment. The wax table  501  in  FIG. 10  is for use in a centralized wax application system for removing toxic airborne particles during the process of applying wax to sporting equipment. Similar to wax table  201  in  FIG. 2 , wax table  501  includes a pair of platforms  502 , a plurality of perforations (not illustrated) in the platforms  502  and a concave portion (also not illustrated). Like wax table  201  in  FIG. 2 , the wax table  501  illustrated in  FIG. 10  is configured to receive sporting equipment to be held in place on platforms  502 . Also, like  FIG. 2 , wax table  501  includes a base  512 . However, base  512  includes components different from those components in base  212  of wax table  201 . In particular, base  512  of wax table  501  includes a plenum  518  and ducting  370 . Plenum  518  receives an airstream contaminated by toxic airborne particles from the process of waxing sporting equipment through perforations in platforms  502 . The contaminated airstream is then directed through ducting  570  to a central pollution control system. Together the wax table  501  and the central pollution control system form the embodiment of a centralized wax application system. 
     In one aspect of a centralized wax application system, a central pollution control system is coupleable to ducting  570  in multiple different wax tables  501  in a single room. Such a central pollution control system  572  is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . In  FIG. 1 , central pollution control system  572  receives an inlet airstream  526  contaminated with toxic airborne particles from the wax tables  501 . The inlet airstream  526  is delivered to the central pollution control system  572  with a blower fan  520 . In one embodiment, blower fan can be a centrifugal blower. The centrifugal blower would include a flow rate capacity as required per the amount of wax tables  501  that are in the room. In particular, blower  520  would have a high enough flow rate capacity to pull contaminated airstreams  526  through perforations in the platforms of the wax tables  501  and into an air pollution control device  522  in central pollution control system  572  for removal of harmful particulates. Example air pollution control devices were discussed above in regards to  FIGS. 4 and 5 . After the airstream is cleaned in the air pollution control device  522 , the airstream is directed through at least one filter  524 . The cleaned airstream  528  is then returned to the wax application room or environment. 
     In another aspect of a centralized wax application system, a central pollution control system  672  services an entire facility  674  including multiple rooms  676  having multiple wax tables  501  as illustrated in  FIG. 12 . Each wax application room  676  includes a hub  678 . Each hub  678  provides a path for a contaminated airstream  626  to be received by central air pollution control system  672 . The path provided by each hub  678  is coupled to ducting (i.e., ducting  570  in  FIG. 5 ) of each wax table  501 . In  FIG. 12 , central pollution control system  672  receives an inlet airstream  626  contaminated with toxic airborne particles from the multiple rooms  676  having multiple wax tables  501 . The inlet airstream  626  is delivered to the central pollution control system  672  with a blower fan  620 . In one embodiment, blower fan is a regenerative blower. A regenerative blower is a multistage blower capable of accommodating more airflow capacity as the use of more wax tables  501  are added to a facility. The blower fan evacuates an airstream  626  contaminated with toxic airborne particles through perforations in each workstations platform. The blower fan forces the airstream  626  containing toxic airborne particles down and away from a wax technician who is applying wax to sporting equipment and into an air pollution control device  622  in central pollution control system  672  for removal of harmful particulates. Example air pollution control devices were discussed above in regards to  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
     After the airstream  626  is cleaned in the air pollution control device  622 , the airstream is directed through at least one filter  624 . The cleaned airstream  628  is then returned to each hub  678  and into each wax application room  676 . 
     As previously discussed, filters  524  and  624  can be any of a variety of different filters including HEPA or ULPA. In addition, air pollution control device can be a variety of types of devices including a wet or dry scrubber. It should be noted that other types of air pollution control devices can also be used. For example, cyclones, incinerators, catalytic reactors, bag houses, electrostatic precipitators adsorption and absorption equipment can be used. 
     Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.