Abstract:
An air filter for filtering air in a refrigerator is provided, comprising a housing having a hollow body including at least a front wall, a pair of side walls, and a top and bottom wall, wherein at least one wall includes at least one aperture for the passage of air, at least one cantilever attaching means for removably securing the housing to the refrigerating apparatus, and a filter element for removable placement within the housing wherein air enters the at least one aperture, makes contact with the filter element, and leaves the air filter.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to air filters, and more particularly, to removable air filters capable of being mounted within refrigerators. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Air filters are capable of being mounted in a number of places including refrigerators. When an air filter is mounted within a refrigerator, the air filter should be placed in an unused yet accessible space. Since the contents of a refrigerator, including food, drink, shelving, etc., are frequently changing, an unused yet accessible mounting space is not static. Thus, there is a continuing need for an air filter that is movable to different positions in the refrigerator compartment. Furthermore, the filter should be replaced periodically to ensure effective and efficient air filtering. It is costly and time consuming to have a manufacturer service the air filter every time it needs to be replaced. Thus, there is also a continuing need for an air filter that allows a user to both move and replace the filter within the refrigerator. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The following presents a simplified summary of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some example aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. Moreover, this summary is not intended to identify critical elements of the invention nor delineate the scope of the invention. The sole purpose of the summary is to present some concepts of the invention in simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. 
         [0004]    In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an air filter for filtering air in a refrigerator is provided, comprising a housing having a hollow body including at least a front wall, a pair of side walls, and a top and bottom wall, wherein at least one wall includes at least one aperture for the passage of air, at least one cantilever attaching means for removably securing the housing to the refrigerating apparatus, and a filter element for removable placement within the housing wherein air enters the at least one aperture, makes contact with the filter element, and leaves the air filter. 
         [0005]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an air filter for filtering air in a refrigerator, comprising a housing having a hollow body including a front and back wall, a pair of side walls, and a bottom wall, wherein at least one wall includes at least one aperture for the passage of air, at least one cantilever attaching means for removably securing the housing to the refrigerating apparatus, and a filter element for removable placement within the housing wherein air enters the at least one aperture, makes contact with the filter element, and leaves the air filter. 
         [0006]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an air filter for filtering air in a refrigerator, comprising a housing having a hollow body including a front and back wall, a side wall, and a top and bottom wall, wherein at least one wall includes at least one aperture for the passage of air, at least one cantilever attaching means for removably securing the housing to the refrigerating apparatus, and a filter element for removable placement within the housing wherein air enters the at least one aperture, makes contact with the filter element, and leaves the air filter. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The foregoing and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates upon reading the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a refrigerator and the interior compartment; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a rear view of an air filter system including a filter housing and a filter element; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of a second embodiment of an air filter system including a filter housing and a filter element; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of an air filter system including a filter housing and a filter element; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a front view of an attaching means for the air filter system. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    Example embodiments that incorporate one or more aspects of the present invention are described and illustrated in the drawings. These illustrated examples are not intended to be a limitation on the present invention. For example, one or more aspects of the present invention can be utilized in other embodiments and even other types of devices. Moreover, certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to be taken as a limitation on the present invention. Still further, in the drawings, the same reference numerals are employed for designating the same elements. 
         [0014]    Turning to the shown example of  FIG. 1 , an interior  4  of a refrigerator  2  is shown. The interior  4  may be organized in a number of different ways, including different shelf configurations along with different drawer configurations. The refrigerator  2  may also be provided with one or more rails  6  arranged vertically within the refrigerator  2 . The rails  6  may be housed in recesses  3  arranged vertically throughout the refrigerator interior. The rails  6  may include a plurality of vertically-spaced orifices  8  to support refrigerator components. For instance, a refrigerator shelf  10  or drawer may be provided with hooks that hook into the orifices, giving support for the shelf. To move the shelf  10  up or down, a user may unhook the shelf  10  and replace it in a different vertical position by inserting the hooks in a different set of orifices  8 . The rails  6  may be secured at a number of locations within the refrigerator  2 , including at opposite sides of the refrigerator interior  4 , in a center recess  3  of the refrigerator, etc. The present invention is not limited to the use of rails  6  for securing refrigerator components. For instance, the refrigerator interior  4  may be equipped with orifices  8  in the refrigerator walls to accommodate components, or there may be horizontal slots that hold rails with orifices. 
         [0015]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , an embodiment of a filter housing  12  is shown. In this embodiment, the filter housing  12  is hollow and rectangularly shaped. The filter housing  12  may be defined by a front wall  14 , inner and outer side walls  16 ,  18 , and a top and bottom wall  20 ,  22 . The walls of the filter housing  12  define a hollow interior. The walls may be formed together as a single piece or may be fixed together, such as by welding, gluing, etc. Each side of the front wall  14  is fixed to a side of the top  20 , bottom  22 , and side walls  16 ,  18 . There is no back wall  24  in this embodiment, but instead, there is an opening  26  in the filter housing  12 . A filter element  36  may be inserted into the filter housing  12  through the opening  26 . The filter housing  12  may comprise a variety of configurations as well. For instance, the filter housing may be circular, having front, back, and circular walls, square, etc. In addition, the filter housing  12  may be made of a variety of materials, including plastic, metal, etc. 
         [0016]    The filter housing  12  may also be provided with an aperture  28  or a plurality of apertures  28  in a wall. In  FIG. 3 , the filter housing  12  is provided with a plurality of diagonal apertures  28  in the front wall  14 . However, different aperture arrangements are contemplated, such as a single large aperture in the front wall, circular apertures in the front wall, one or more horizontal or vertical apertures in the front wall, one or more apertures in the top  20 , bottom  22 , or side walls  16 ,  18 , etc. The housing  12  may also include two separate sets of apertures  28 , such as one set of apertures  28  on one wall and a different set of apertures on a second wall, or one set of apertures  28  on a wall and a separate set of apertures on the same wall. The housing may also include grips  30 , allowing for easier handling by the user. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the grips  30  are secured to the outer side wall  18 . The grips  30  may be secured in a number of places, however. For instance, the grips  30  can be secured to the top and bottom walls  20 ,  22 , to the front wall  14 , etc. The grips may be formed of any material that provides easier handling by the user, including, but not limited to, rubber. Furthermore, the grips may constitute indentations or grooves in a wall. 
         [0017]      FIGS. 3 and 4  show alternate embodiments of the filter housing  12 . The filter housings  12  shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  are also hollow and rectangularly shaped. The filter housing  12  shown in  FIG. 3  may be defined by front and back walls  14 ,  24 , inner and outer side walls  16 ,  18 , and a bottom wall  22 . There is no top wall  20  in this embodiment, but instead, there is an opening  26  in the filter housing  12  in place of the top wall  20 . The filter element  36  may be inserted into the filter housing  12  through the opening  26 . The filter housing  12  shown in  FIG. 4  may be defined by front and back walls  14 ,  24 , an inner side wall  16 , and top and bottom walls  20 ,  22 . There is no outer side wall  18  in this embodiment, but instead, there is an opening  26  in the filter housing  12  in place of the outer side wall  18 . The filter element  36  may be inserted into the filter housing  12  through the opening  26 . As with previous embodiments, the walls in these embodiments may be formed as a single piece or fixed together, such as by welding, gluing, etc. 
         [0018]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , there is shown a cantilever attaching means  32  for securing the filter housing  12  to the rail  6 . The cantilever attaching means  32  may comprise a pair of spaced hooks  34  secured to the inner side wall  16  of the filter housing  12 . The hooks  34  may be formed either as a single piece with the filter housing  12  or may be fixed to the filter housing  12 , such as by welding, gluing, etc. The hooks  34  may be supported at one end by being attached to the filter housing. The other end of the hooks  34  are small enough to be inserted into the orifices  8  of the rail  6  but large enough to form a tight fit and limit movement. The hooks  34  may comprise a number of different embodiments, since an objective of the hooks  34  is to secure the filter housing  12  to the rail. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , the hooks  34  may be spaced apart and opposing each other. In another embodiment, the hooks  34  may be facing the same direction and turned downwards. In yet another embodiment, one hook  34  may be facing downwards while the other hook  34  is oriented in a horizontal direction and capable of being flexed, allowing for a more secure fitting within the orifice  8 . In any of the listed embodiments, the hooks  34  allow the filter housing  12  to be secured on any of the rails  6  within the refrigerator  2 . Furthermore, it is contemplated that the filter housing  12  may be inverted with the hooks  34  still capable of insertion into the orifices  8  of the rail. Therefore, the hooks  34  allow a user to move the filter housing  12  to a different location within the refrigerator  2  and also invert the filter housing  12  if necessary. 
         [0019]    The filter element  36  is provided for insertion into the filter housing  12 . The filter element  36  may be inserted through the opening  26  into the hollow center of the filter housing  12 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  4 , the opening  26  may be in different locations depending on the embodiment, as the opening may replace the back wall  24 , top wall  20 , or outer side wall  18 . Referring to  FIG. 6 , to insert the filter element  36 , the user may simply slide the filter element  36  through the opening  26  into the filter housing  12 . In one embodiment, the filter housing  12  or filter element  36  may be provided with a snap-fit means, allowing for a more secure fit between the filter housing  12  and filter element  36 . In another embodiment, the interior of the filter housing  12  and the filter element  36  may be provided with magnets to ensure a connection when the filter element  36  has been inserted into the filter housing  12 . The filter element  36  is provided with a porous surface  38 . The porous surface  38  may be a screen that is secured to the filter element  36  or the porous surface  38  may be formed as one piece with the filter element  36 . Filtering of the air occurs as the air flow rubs against the porous surface  38  and is redirected by it. Therefore, air does not pass through porous surface  38 , but instead rubs against the surface  38 . In one embodiment, the filter element  36  may be a carbon filter. However, other filter elements are also contemplated. The porous surface  38  may act to remove particulates, such as dust, bacteria, mold, food particles, etc. from the air of the refrigerator interior. This may improve the smell, cleanliness, appearance, etc. of the refrigerator interior. Thus, uncleaned air may enter the filter housing  12  through apertures  28 , make contact with the porous surface  12  causing the uncleaned air to be filtered, and then exit the filter housing  12  through apertures  28 . 
         [0020]    One possible operation of an embodiment of the air filter  11  will now be described. First, a user may secure the filter housing  12  to a rail  6  within the refrigerator  2 . The user may slide the hooks  34  into corresponding orifices  8  on the rail  6  to ensure a snug fit. With the filter housing  12  secure, the user may then insert the filter element  36  into the filter housing  12 . As mentioned, this may be accomplished in a number of ways, including sliding the filter element  36  into the filter housing  12 , snap-fitting the filter element  36  within the housing  12 , sliding the filter element  36  within the housing  12  and ensuring that the magnets make contact, etc., depending on the embodiment. Next, air may enter the filter housing  12  by passing through the apertures  28  provided on one of the walls. As air enters, it makes contact with the porous surface  38  of the filter element  36 . In one embodiment, air may make contact with the porous surface  38  and flow against it. The porous surface  38  may then redirect the air flow to exit through the apertures  28 . By making contact with the porous surface  38 , particulates from the air are removed and may adhere to the porous surface  38 , providing cleaner air. After making contact with and rubbing against the porous surface  38 , cleaner air may then exit the filter housing  12 . Thus, the apertures  28  in the filter housing  12  may serve as both the entrance and exit for the air flow. In an alternate embodiment, the filter housing  12  may be equipped with a plurality of apertures  28  allowing for separate entrance and exit apertures for the air flow. In this instance, air may enter one aperture, or multiple apertures, make contact with the porous surface of the filter element, and then exit a separate aperture, or apertures, after being redirected by the filter element. The user may also move the filter housing  12  or replace the filter element  36  as mentioned. To move the filter housing  12 , the user may unhook the housing  12  from the corresponding rail  6  and reinsert the filter housing hooks  34  into the orifices  8  at the desired location. Furthermore, replaceable filter elements and filter housings may be available for purchase as aftermarket accessories. To replace the filter element  36 , the user may slide or unsnap the filter element, depending on the chosen embodiment, and replace the used filter element with a new filter element. 
         [0021]    The invention has been described with reference to the example embodiments described above. Modifications and alterations will occur to others upon a reading and understanding of this specification. Examples embodiments incorporating one or more aspects of the invention are intended to include all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims.