Abstract:
A portable after market vehicle cabin ventilator provides a portable exhaust for a vehicle cabin, which utilizes the vehicle window for mounting and which promotes the quality of air within the vehicle cabin, without the need to open the windows in inclement cold or hot weather. The ventilator also optionally detects dangerous carbon monoxide fumes within a parked or moving vehicle. The ventilator of the present invention enhances the air quality of the vehicle interior by incorporating smoke and gas detectors, as well as one or more fans.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to exhaust and smoke ventilators for motor vehicles  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Often when driving a person smoking a cigarette has to evacuate the smoke by opening the vehicle windows. However, that is uncomfortably cold in the winter, uncomfortably hot in the summer, and brings in wet rain during a rainstorm.  
           [0003]    Among related patents include US Patent No. U.S. Pat. No. 5,120,271 of the Applicant Julio Shtanko for a ventilator for exhausting cigarette smoke and carbon monoxide gas from a ventilator interior.  
           [0004]    However, the installation of the ventilator requires putting a hole in a car roof or frame in order to exhaust the smoke or gas.  
           [0005]    Among prior art patents describing the use of a smoke detector and exhaust fan include U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,809 of Arceneaux for a building ceiling.  
           [0006]    Moreover, U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,293 of Mohammed discloses a very thin hook-over-window draped exhaust consisting of passive louvers but it has no fan. It exhausts smoke purely by opening and directing the air flow, not with a fan as in Shtanko &#39;271, which discloses an exhaust fan, a carbon monoxide detector and tubes for evacuating air from the interior. However, Shtanko 271&#39; does not describe a portable vehicle cabin ventilator. Neither Shtanko &#39;271, Arceneaux, 809 nor Mohammed &#39;293 describe a portable vehicle cabin ventilator which utilizes a snug, over the window exhaust which, powered by the vehicle&#39;s battery, such as through the cigarette lighter, greatly enhances the purity of the air within the vehicle&#39;s cabin, by exhausting cigarette smoke, or noxious fumes from the vehicles.  
         OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a portable after market vehicle cabin ventilator.  
           [0008]    It is also an object of the present invention to provide a portable exhaust for a vehicle cabin which utilizes the vehicle window for mounting and which promotes the quality of air within the vehicle cabin, without the need to open the windows in inclement cold or hot weather.  
           [0009]    Other objects which become apparent from the following description of the present invention.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    In keeping with these objects and others which may become apparent, the present invention is a ventilator for a vehicle cabin which detects and exhausts air contaminated by cigarette, pipe or cigar smoke through an exhaust mounted on the vehicle window.  
           [0011]    The ventilator also detects dangerous carbon monoxide fumes within a parked or moving vehicle. The ventilator of the present invention enhances the air quality of the vehicle interior by incorporating smoke and gas detectors, as well as one or more fans. The addition of the window mount to the ventilator greatly enhances the portability aspects while maintaining its utility as a exhaust ventilator.  
           [0012]    The use of low voltage direct current power, such as from the cigarette lighter, provides the ventilator with a convenient and reliable source of power.  
           [0013]    The important monitoring function of the ventilator is maintained with the smoke and gas detector features. The combination of the exhaust system with the unique window mount provide beneficial effects that are not possible with any other type of portable exhaust.  
           [0014]    In a preferred embodiment, the structure of the ventilator is thin and covered with a soft interior, such as a thermoplastic elastomer, so as not to be obstructive within the vehicle interior.  
           [0015]    In one of the embodiments, the portable ventilator is used in a vehicle cabin, over the window, which slides up to close the window opening. The portable ventilator includes a housing containing an exhaust fan. The housing is adapted to be removably mounted at any suitable location within the vehicle cabin.  
           [0016]    Electrical power is provided to the exhaust fan from a source of power, such as one or more batteries or the cigarette lighter, within the cabin. The housing has ventilator module which is mounted on a top edge of a partially open window in the vehicle cabin. The ventilator module includes an elongated housing with an inverted U-shaped section straddling the top edge of the window. An extended exhaust plenum is formed within the module on the interior side of the window adjacent to the U-shaped section, and an overhanging section of the module butts against a top of the window opening. The overhanging section forms a passageway that communicates with the exhaust plenum and it has an elongated discharge opening outside of the vehicle cabin.  
           [0017]    A hose connects the exhaust fan in the housing to one end of the exhaust plenum in the ventilator module to exhaust stale or smoke-filled air within the cabin out through the discharge opening of the module, to the outside of the vehicle cabin.  
           [0018]    Preferably, the portable ventilator has a carbon monoxide sensor that automatically initiates operation of the exhaust fan when a predetermined threshold of carbon monoxide is reached. In addition, the portable ventilator may have a manual on/off switch for turning the exhaust fan on and off. To prevent hot or cold ambient outside air from entering the cabin while the portable ventilator housing straddles the window, the U-shaped section of the ventilator module has a seal between its walls and window.  
           [0019]    Additionally, the portable ventilator has further extended seals between edges of the window and the window opening where the window edge is not covered by the ventilator module.  
           [0020]    In a preferred embodiment, wherein the portable ventilator is used in a vehicle cabin, over a window, which slides up to close window opening, the ventilator module is mounted on a top edge of a partially open window in the vehicle cabin. This ventilator module also has an elongated housing with an inverted U-shaped section straddling the top edge of the window, an extended plenum formed within the module on the interior side of the window adjacent to the U-shaped section, and an overhanging section of the module which butts against a top of the window opening. The overhanging section forms a passageway communicating with the plenum and has an elongated discharge opening outside of the vehicle cabin.  
           [0021]    This portable ventilator also includes an inlet to the plenum from the interior of the vehicle cabin, and one or more cross flow exhaust fans mounted within the plenum to draw air from the cabin, through the inlet and out of the discharge opening outside of the vehicle cabin. Preferably, the portable ventilator has one or more batteries to provide electrical power to the exhaust fan, and a switch that activates the exhaust fan.  
           [0022]    Alternatively it can be powered by the vehicle cigarette lighter.  
           [0023]    The portable ventilator can have a row of cross flow exhaust fans. In addition, the inlet of the portable ventilator may be provided at a diagonal angle, with a face of the window and the exhaust fans being slanted downwardly toward the inlet. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0024]    The present invention can best be understood in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is noted that the invention is not limited to the precise embodiments shown in drawings, in which:  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a portable exhaust ventilator unit of this invention;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a vehicle interior section with the ventilator of this invention installed;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 3 is a crossectional detail of an attachment method for the ventilator of this invention;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 4 is a crossectional view of a window mounted air exhaust plenum of this invention;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 5 is a crossectional view of a window seal accessory of this invention;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 6 is a top plan view of an alternate embodiment using a scroll type blower;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a ventilator circuit;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of a window mounted ventilator embodiment;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 9 is a crossectional view of a window-mounted embodiment;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 10 is a front view in cross-section for a preferred embodiment for a window mounted ventilator;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 11 is a side elevational view in cross-section thereof; and,  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 12 is a side elevational view in crossection for another preferred embodiment for a slanted window mounted ventilator.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0037]    Although powered vehicle ventilators for exhausting cigarette, pipe, or cigar smoke from the interior are known, they typically require some vehicle modification for installation. The present invention describes a ventilator system, which exhausts contaminated air through the vehicle window and is attached and powered in an easily removable manner without vehicle modifications.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 1 shows a top view of a ventilator module  1  of the embodiment of this invention. Housing  2  is angled as shown and has sloping surfaces which accommodate two exhaust fans behind inlet screens  5 . The exhaust fans may be typically DC brushless types available from a number of manufacturers and used typically for cooling of electronics. One such type is a Panasonic FBA08A12U1A measuring 80 mm square which is available from Digi-Key Corp. of Thief River Falls, Minn. In this embodiment of FIG. 1, air enters at inlet  10  and is exhausted at outlet plenum  9  as designated by  11 .  
         [0039]    Also optionally included in this embodiment of FIG. 1 is a carbon monoxide detector behind panel  3  with exposed detector head  4 . This can be, for example, a Figaro TGS 800 unit. This carbon monoxide detector is operative through a power source, such as the cigarette lighter while the vehicle is on, detecting carbon monoxide fumes and exhausting then from the interior of the vehicle cabins interior. Also shown are line cord  12  and cigarette lighter plug  13 , which are used to tap into the vehicle 12-volt DC supply. The carbon monoxide detector can automatically turn on the ventilator fans if a certain concentration threshold is exceeded; lighting red indicator  8  indicates this mode. Optionally, the carbon monoxide detector may have a digital display  8   a  showing a numerical level of carbon monoxide concentration in the vehicle cabin&#39;s interior. This digital indicator  8   a  is useful as a precautionary warning, so that no false sense of security occurs when the fan or fans turn on and the user thinks that the fan or fans are activated only by cigarette smoke. Manual switch  6  can also turn on the ventilators regardless of the level of contamination. Green indicator  7  shines when the fans are on.  
         [0040]    Combined carbon monoxide and smoke detectors really can be used, such as manufactured under the trade name “First Alert” or by American Sensors, Inc.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 2 shows the driver corner of the vehicle interior with vehicle roof  15 , driver&#39;s door  17 , windshield  16 , driver&#39;s window  18  and dashboard  22  one embodiment for Ventilator module  1  is removably attached to dashboard  22  using strips of self-lock mushroom head fasteners, such as supplied by McMaster-Carr Supply Company of Brunswick, N.J.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 3 is a crossectional side detail of this attachment method. The fastener strips mentioned are more rigid than the more common hook and loop type and have high holding power. These strips have an integral adhesive layer, which is exposed by removing release strips. The mushroom heads mate with each other so that only one type of strip is required. The bottom fastener strip with adhesive layer  34  and substrate  33  is attached to dashboard  22 . The mated mushroom heads from both strips are shown as layer  32 . The substrate and adhesive layer of the top fastener strip are layers  31  and  30  respectively. Adhesive  30  is attached to housing bottom  2  of ventilator module  1 . The embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 shows flexible corrugated hose  20  which connects module  1  to exhaust plenum  19 , which is attached to the top edge of window  18 . Fastener strips can also be used to route hose  20  across dashboard  22  and along the edge of windshield  16 .  
         [0043]    While the installation shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 exhausts through the driver&#39;s window, it must be realized that any vehicle window can be used. If a rear window is used, ventilator module  1  can be attached to the back of a front seat or to the back door. If only a single occupant is smoking, it is more effective to locate ventilator  1  close to the smoker to minimize the mixing of smoke with cabin air in general.  
         [0044]    The housing  2  of ventilator  1  as well as plenum  19  should be made of non shattering material that will deform to absorb impact during an accident. A variety of semi-rigid thermoplastic elastomers (TPE&#39;s) as well as TPE covered sheet metal can be utilized. Optional window mounted, longitudinally extending elastomeric seal  21  to minimize infiltration of outside air and wind noise is also shown in place.  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 4 is a crossection detail of a window mounted exhaust plenum showing the manner in which plenum  19  is held in place by window pane  18  and placement against door frame  17  on top. Elastomeric U-gasket  42  grips window glass  18  within the more rigid plenum  19  U-section to which it is bonded. Contaminated air  11  is exhausted to the outside  40  from interior  41 . The dimensions of plenum  19  minimize the area and locate the obscuration to an non-obtrusive position along the window top edge.  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 5 is a crossection detail of window-mounted elastomeric seal  21 , which can be used along the leading edge of slightly open window  18 . Deep slot  45  permits adjustment. The distal end of the profile of elastomeric seal  21  fits in the front window channel (not shown).  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 6 is a top view of an alternate embodiment of this invention showing ventilator module  50  with rectangular housing  54  and intake grill  51 . Switch  6 , indicators  7  and  8 , and carbon monoxide detector head  4  serve the same functions as in ventilator module  1 . The main difference in this embodiment is the use of a single scroll type blower  52  (shown in phantom lines) instead of the dual fans. Blower  52  can be a Panasonic part number FAL6F12LL which has higher pressure capability than the fans of ventilator module  1 ; this makes it possible to use smaller diameter hose  53  to exhaust stale air  11 .  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing carbon monoxide circuit board  60  with head  4  and indicator  8 . Diodes  61  and  62  permit isolation between the outputs of board  60  and manual switch  6  while independently controlling the operation of fan or blower  64  (and second fan  65 ) through MOSFET transistor  63  (metal oxide field effect transistor). Resistor  66  is a pull down resistor of preferably 10 k ohms.  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 8 is a side view of yet another ventilator embodiment. This compact module  70  is mounted directly to window  18 . It is controlled by line mounted switch  74  and no carbon monoxide detector is included. The key advantage to this design is compactness and shape conformability, which permits direct window attachment. The compactness and narrow long shape are made possible by the use of a cross flow fan which is shown in phantom lines as motor  71 , elongated blower wheel  72  and end bearing  73 . A Panasonic model FCB34AF12 available from Digi-Key can be used.  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 9 is a crossectional view showing that the entire ventilator  70  can be housed in a unit just slightly deeper than plenum  19 ; it is mounted in the same manner as plenum  19  was mounted. Inlet slot  74  receives the stale air  10  and exits it outside at  11 . Since dimension A is limited, only a small moment load on window glass  18  (partly taken by doorframe  17 ) is imposed. No corrugated hose is required for this embodiment.  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 10 is a front view in cross-section for a preferred embodiment for a window mounted ventilator similar to FIG. 9, but where one or more thin tube axial exhaust fans  181  are provided in a module  180  such as manufactured by Agusta cooling services for cooling computers. These thin tube axial exhaust fans  181  are thin with a depth of only one inch. They can be laid side to side, as shown in FIG. 10, with a module of only about an inch and a half in depth, as shown in FIG. 11, where module  180  is shown draped over window  18 .  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 12 in another preferred embodiment for a window mounted ventilator  280 , fans  281  are slanted downward, to maximize exhaust flow therein.  
         [0053]    In the foregoing description, certain terms and visual depictions are used to illustrate the preferred embodiment. However, no unnecessary limitations are to be construed by the terms used or illustrations depicted, beyond what is shown in the prior art, since the terms and illustrations are exemplary only, and are not meant to limit the scope of the present invention.  
         [0054]    It is further known that other modifications may be made to the present invention, without departing the scope of the invention.