Abstract:
An air purifier includes a collector electrode assembly removable from an opening on the top surface of the unit and a safety lid detached from the collector electrode assembly for covering the opening on the top surface of the unit. The safety lid is configured to cover the opening whether the collector electrode assembly is at rest within the housing or has been removed from the housing for cleaning.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to electrostatic air conditioning devices and more particularly to a safety lid for such devices. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Electrostatic air cleaners use electric energy to generate electrostatic forces which create air flow without the use of a fan or other moving parts. Electrostatic forces also enable the air cleaner to collect airborne contaminants such as dust, smoke, oil mist, pollen, pet dander and other small debris particles from the air circulated in dwellings, workplaces, and other structures. Generally, known electrostatic air cleaners utilize two arrays of electrodes excited by high-voltage. In a known design, the first electrode array comprises wire or rod-shaped electrodes (hereinafter “wire electrodes”), while the second electrode array comprises plate electrodes. A high-voltage generator creates an electrical charge between the first and second electrode arrays. 
     The particulate matter enters the region of the first electrode array and is charged before entering the region of the second electrode array, where it is removed from the air stream. Specifically, due to the high-voltage charge at the wire electrodes, free electrons are stripped off of atoms and molecules in the surrounding air. These electrons migrate to the positively charged wire electrodes, where they are collected. The removal of free electrons leaves the stripped atoms and molecules positively charged, which are repelled from the positively charged wire electrodes and attracted to the negatively charged plate electrodes. The addition of the electrons from the negatively charged plate electrodes also produces negative air ions that are propelled from the trailing edge of the plate electrodes. Thus, the ionic forces exerted on atoms and molecules create a silent movement of air through the air cleaner. 
     Because the plate electrodes collect the debris from the air flowing through the air cleaner, the plate electrodes need to be cleaned regularly. Typically, to clean the plate electrodes, the user removes the electrodes from the air cleaner and washes them to remove the collected debris. Warm water and a sponge may be used to facilitate the cleaning. After the plate electrodes are completely dried, they may be returned to the air purifier unit. Returning the plate electrodes to the unit while they are wet is dangerous and could cause irreparable damage to the air purifier unit. Accordingly, it is very important to allow the plate electrodes to fully dry before returning them to the air purifier unit. 
       FIG. 1  depicts a known electrostatic air conditioning device  100 , as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,953,556, wherein the plate electrodes  110  are attached to a handle  120 . To remove the plate electrodes  110  for cleaning, the user pulls the handle  120  up vertically, pulling the plate electrodes out of an opening  130  in the top surface  135  of the device. The handle serves two purposes: it assists the user with vertically removing the electrodes out of the housing and it covers the opening in the top surface when the plate electrodes are at rest in the air purifier. 
     The disadvantage of the known device  100  is that when the plate electrodes  110  are removed for cleaning, an open hole  130  remains on the top surface  135  of the air purifier  100 . Leaving an exposed opening in the top surface of the air purifier for an extended period of time can be dangerous and unsightly. The air purifier includes various electronic components that are exposed and accessible through the opening  130  in the top surface  135 . When the plate electrodes are removed, a child can easily reach through the hole into the unit and can cause damage to the unit or to himself. Furthermore, foreign objects can be dropped into the device, interfering with the operation of the device when it is turned on. The presence of a foreign object in an electrostatic air purifier is not only harmful to the air purifier but could be dangerous to the user, particularly if the foreign object is a metallic item that could interfere with the electrical operation of the air purifier. Furthermore, if dust or other debris gathers in the unit when the top is left open, the safety and efficiency of the unit could be affected. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for an air purifier having a safety cap which can be utilized to keep the unit free of dust, debris and other foreign objects while the collector blades are being cleaned. 
     Furthermore, there is a need to prevent access to the internal components of the air purifier unit when the collector blades to be cleaned are removed and for the duration of the cleaning. 
     SUMMARY OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     An air purifier is disclosed having a safety lid for preventing access to the unit and keeping the internal components of the unit free of debris when the collector plates are removed for cleaning. The terms air purifier, air cleaner and air conditioner are used interchangeably herein and are intended to have the same meaning. The air purifier includes a collector electrode assembly removable from an opening on the top surface of the unit and a safety lid detached from the collector electrode assembly for covering the opening on the top surface of the unit. The safety lid is configured to cover the opening whether the collector electrode assembly is at rest within the housing or has been removed from the housing for cleaning. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a known air purifier having a handle attached to the collector plates, wherein the handle extends through an opening in the top surface of the housing and covers the opening; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the air purifier of the present invention having a removable safety lid; and 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the air purifier of the present invention showing the safety lid in operation during the cleaning of the collector blades. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , a preferred embodiment of the air purifier  10  of the present invention includes an elongated body  12  positioned on a base  14 . A neck portion  16  supports the elongated body on base  14 . The body  12  includes a vertical channel  18  therein for housing the collector electrodes  20  when the air purifier is in use. Louvers or slats  18  are provided on the elongated body  12  to allow air to flow through the vertical channel  22 . 
     The operation of the air purifier is the same as known electrokinetic air purifiers. Namely, a first electrode array (not shown) and a second electrode array  20  are provided in the vertical channel  22 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the second electrode array  20  includes metal electrode blades or plates. It is to be understood that the first and second electrode arrays can have various shapes and configurations, all of which are included in the scope of the present invention. A high voltage generator creates an electric charge between the electrode arrays. The resulting ionic forces create a silent movement of air through the vertical channel  22  of the air purifier. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the collector electrodes  20  can be removed for cleaning through an opening  24  in the top surface  26  of the air purifier  10 . The opening  24  must be sufficiently large to allow the collector electrodes  20  to be removed easily through the opening. However, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the opening  24  does not define the entire top surface  26  of the air purifier  10 . Therefore, the top surface  26  preferably includes opening  24  and outlying surfaces  28  surrounding the opening. A control panel  30  is provided on a portion of the outlying surface  28 . 
     In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a handle  32  is provided to facilitate the removal of the collector electrodes  20  through the opening  24 . The handle  32  is preferably attached at an upper end  34  of the collector electrodes  20  and is sized to be easily gripped and pulled by the user. It is envisioned that the handle can have many forms. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the handle  32  is an arch-shaped extension sized to be comfortably grasped by a user. In a preferred embodiment, the handle  32  has a cut-out portion therein to receive the user&#39;s fingers therethrough and allow the user to have a tighter grip on the handle. 
     The handle  32  is preferably substantially smaller than opening  24 . When the collector electrodes  20  are at rest within the vertical channel  22 , the opening  24  remains substantially uncovered. A safety lid  50  is provided to cover the opening  24  on the top surface  26  of the air purifier. The safety lid  50  is not attached to the collector electrodes  20 , allowing the lid  50  to be used independently of the collector electrodes  20 . The lid  50  is preferably shaped like the opening  24  such that the lid  50  substantially covers the opening  24  when the lid is placed thereon. For example, in the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the opening  24  has an ovoid shape and the lid has a corresponding ovoid shape. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the lid includes a lip  52  extending along the outer edge of the lid  50 . The lip  52  is dimensioned to sit on a ledge  34  defined within the vertical channel  22 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , when the lip  52  of the lid  50  is positioned on the ledge  34 , the top surface  54  of the lid is preferably flush with the top surface  26  of the air purifier. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the lid  50  includes a pair of depressions  56  to facilitate the removal of the lid. To remove the lid, the user inserts his or her fingers in the depressions  56  to grip the lid  50 , and then pulls the lid vertically upward to separate the lid from the air purifier. In another preferred embodiment, the lid can be threadingly mated with the side wall  36  of the vertical channel. In another embodiment, the lid  50  can be mated with the side wall  36  by a tongue and groove interlocking mechanism, wherein the lid carries a tongue that fits into a groove defined in the side wall  36 . There are many other known mechanisms that can be utilized to interlock the lid with the air purifier when the lid is placed thereon. It is envisioned that the scope of the invention includes any interlocking mechanism that mates the lid with the air purifier, when the lid is placed thereon. In the embodiments wherein the lid  50  is matingly attached to the side wall  36  of the vertical channel  22 , the depressions  56  can be used to facilitate the twisting of the lid  50 , to release the lid from the interlocking engagement with the air purifier. 
     To clean the electrodes, the lid  50  is removed from the air purifier unit. The user then reaches through opening  24  to access the handle  32 . The handle is grasped and pulled vertically upward, pulling the collector electrodes vertically upward through the opening. When the collector electrodes  20  are completely removed from the air purifier, the lid  50  is returned to the top surface of the air purifier. The collector electrodes can then be washed to remove all of the collected debris gathered on the electrodes. Warm water and a sponge may be used to facilitate the cleaning. 
     After the collector electrodes are washed, it is important to allow the electrodes to completely dry before returning them to the air purifier unit. While the electrodes are drying, the safety lid prevents access to the internal components of the air purifier. Therefore, the safety lid prevents children (or adults) from reaching into the unit and causing harm to themselves or the unit. Furthermore, the safety lid of the present invention prevents dust, debris or other foreign objects from falling or settling into the air purifier. 
     In known prior art devices, the internal components of the air purifier remain accessible while the plate electrodes are being cleaned. The longer the plate electrodes are out of the housing, the greater the opportunity for compromising the safety and efficiency of the unit. When using the prior art devices, the user has a dilemma. The longer the plate electrodes are out of the housing, the greater the risk of a safety problem arising. Yet to return the plate electrodes to the housing while they are not yet completely dried could be dangerous in itself. The safety lid of the present invention ensures that the safety and efficiency of the unit is not compromised while the collector electrodes are removed from the air purifier unit. Therefore, the user can rest easy and allow the collector electrodes to completely dry without worrying about the increased risks associated with the prior art devices. 
     Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which the invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.