Abstract:
A portable device provides filtered air to the face of a user, and has a housing having an air outlet disposed to direct air toward a face of a user, a fan disposed inside the housing for urging air toward the air outlet, a filter member disposed in the air outlet, and an air inlet. A UV light source is provided inside the housing, for providing UV light to purify air moving inside said housing toward said filter member. A CO detector disk is mounted on an outside wall of the housing, for providing a visible color change when CO is detected. A pill box is mounted on an outside wall of the housing, as well as a holder for a personal medications log mounted, and a personal medications log insertable therein.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not applicable. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention relates to personal health devices for protecting a user, and to portable devices for providing filtered air for breathing by a user. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    It is a problem in the art to provide filtered air for breathing by a user. It is also a problem in the art to provide a portable device for providing filtered air to a user. 
         [0005]    One prior art solution includes simple surgical masks to filter air which is breathed by a wearer. However, such masks have drawbacks, not the least of which is that the face is covered. And, such masks suffer from leakage, and the filtering material must generally be thin to permit ready breathing which therefore diminishes the filtering effects. Other solutions to providing filtered air have not been portable, such solutions including use of fixed hardware such as air purifiers and air conditioning units. 
         [0006]    Additionally, purifying air is known, but usually requires heavy equipment such as that used in hospitals. 
         [0007]    There is a need for a portable device to provide filtered air to a user. There is additionally a need for a portable device that is convenient, light in weight, and low in cost, to provide filtered air to a user. Further, there is a need for a portable device to provide purified air to a user. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    From the foregoing, it is seen that it is a problem in the art to provide a device meeting the above requirements. According to the present invention, a device is provided which meets the aforementioned requirements and needs in the prior art. Specifically, the device according to the present invention provides a portable device to provide filtered air to a user. The device further provides a portable device that is convenient, light in weight, and low in cost, to supply filtered air to a user. Further, the device of the present invention provides a portable device to provide purified air to a user. 
         [0009]    The device according to the present invention includes a fan inside a housing, the housing having an air outlet portion for directing air to connections for a neck strap or chain to permit wearing of the housing by a user, an air inlet for the fan, and a filter disposed in the air outlet portion of the housing to filter air directed toward the face of the user. 
         [0010]    An advantage of the present invention is that the user can breathe air that is relatively free of pollen, smoke particles, and dust. The device of the present invention can form an air curtain or air shield in front of the face of the user, that substantially blocks the ambient unfiltered air from reaching the face of a user. 
         [0011]    Advantageously, the device according to the present invention also includes an embodiment which has an air purifying feature. A UV light is disposed inside the housing, which affects bacteria and viruses. A sufficiently strong UV light source is known to neutralize or destroy such bacteria and viruses. The air purifying feature of this embodiment of the present invention is useful for situations where there may be an outbreak of a virus outbreak or a bacteria outbreak. 
         [0012]    Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of a personal health device according to the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2A  is a side elevational schematic view of the device of  FIG. 1  providing an air supply to the face of a user. 
           [0015]      FIGS. 2B  is a front elevational schematic view of the device of  FIG. 1  providing an air supply to the face of a user. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is an elevational view of the device of  FIG. 1  showing a rear side of the device. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is an assembly view of the device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a side elevational view of the device of  FIG. 1  as viewed from the right. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a front elevational view of the device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  a rear elevational view of the device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is another embodiment of the device according to the present invention, having a top air flow opening. 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is a rear elevational view of the device of  FIG. 8 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 10  is an assembly view of the device of  FIGS. 8 and 9 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 11  is side elevational view of the device of  FIG. 8  as viewed from the right. 
           [0025]      FIG. 12  is a front elevational view of the device of  FIGS. 8-11 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 13  is a rear elevational view of the device of  FIGS. 8-11 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 14  is a schematic side view of a tiltable air outlet portion usable in the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-7 . 
           [0028]      FIG. 15  is a schematic side sectional view of a further embodiment of the present invention, having a UV light guide to provide UV light to an air outlet. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0029]      FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of a personal health device  100 , which has a housing  10  and an air outlet portion  30 . The housing  10  includes an upper front panel  11 , a lower front panel  12 , a side panel  14 , a lower panel  16 , a top panel  18 , and a pair of extending connector portions  50  (only one of which is visible in  FIG. 1 ). A filter  32  is disposed in the air outlet portion  30 , for filtering air. 
         [0030]    In  FIG. 1 , the air outlet portion has an angled lower panel  34 . The air filter  32  fits through a slot (unnumbered) in the side wall  14 . The opposite side wall is similar to side wall  14 , and therefore the air filter is supported in two opposed slots in the opposed side walls. 
         [0031]    A compartment  40  is disposed on the rear of the device  100 , which serves as a compartment for pills, tablets, capsules, and the like, which are typically used for medications. Also, support members  42  and  44  are visible, which are parts of a structure (shown in  FIG. 7 ) used for receiving a personal medications log  88  (also shown in  FIG. 7 ). 
         [0032]    A CO detector disk  20  is provided which changes color when exposed to CO gas. The CO detector disk  20  is supported by the lower front panel  12 , a wall  24  connected to the panel  12 , and a transparent cover portion  22 . The CO detector disk  20  is removable from an opening at the top which is not bounded by the wall  24 . Any known type of CO detector material can be used for the CO detector disk  20 . In a preferred embodiment, the CO detector disk  20  is yellow in a normal condition, and changes color to black when CO is detected. 
         [0033]      FIG. 2A  is a side elevational schematic view of the device  100  of  FIG. 1  providing an air supply  300  to the face of a user. The air supply  300  is seen as providing an air curtain in front of the mouth and nose of the user, tending to keep unfiltered air away and providing filtered breathing air to the user. In  FIG. 2A , the device  100  is supported on a chain (unnumbered), though it is also contemplated that a strap, string, or other supporting member can be used to provide a convenient way for the user to carry the device  100  is a position suitable for use. 
         [0034]      FIGS. 2B  is a front elevational schematic view of the device of  FIG. 1  as worn by a user, as described above with reference to  FIG. 2A , for providing an air supply to the face of a user. 
         [0035]      FIG. 3  is an elevational view of the device of  FIG. 1  showing a rear side of the device. The compartment  40  has been described in the above, and further includes a latch portion  48  and a sidewall  46 . The personal medications log  88  (also shown in  FIG. 7 ) is shown for insertion into a support portion formed by the portions  42  and  44  which are connected by a bottom portion (unnumbered). 
         [0036]      FIG. 4  is an assembly view of the device  100  of  FIG. 1 . In this view, like numbered elements as in  FIG. 1  are as described above. Additionally,  FIG. 1  shows a fan  60 , a power source  400 , and air passages  62 ,  62 . The fan  60  can be a pad fan, for example. The air passages  62 ,  62  are merely schematic, and in practice, a greater number of such air passages would usually be provided, which may be smaller or larger than those shown, and which may be located in places other than or in addition to those shown. All such variations would be within the ambit of skill of any one having skill in the fan and fan housing arts, and all such variations are contemplated as being within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0037]    Other elements and features are shown in  FIG. 4 . The filter  32  is shown separately, and a solar panel  410  (which is optional) is disposed on top of the housing. The solar panel may be used to power the fan, or to act as a booster to extend battery life in use, or as a way of recharging the battery  400  when the device  100  is not in use. It is noted that an ON-OFF switch is not shown, and such ON-OFF switches are very well known. The ON-OFF switch is therefore omitted for the sake of clarity. It would be conventional to provide and use such an ON-OFF switch at any convenient location, and all such variations are considered to be within the scope of the present invention. The device  100  can also be turned OFF by manually removing the battery  400 . 
         [0038]    A UV light source  420  is schematically depicted in this view, being connected by a pair of wires (unnumbered) to a power supply. A battery  400  is shown, having two connecting wires  401  and  402  schematically shown being connected with the based of the fan  60 , for supplying power to the fan  60 . The fan  60  itself is contemplated as being a conventional bladed fan. 
         [0039]    The UV light source  420  is provided to purify and sterilize air, by emitting UV light on air that is being urged by the fan  60  toward the filter  32 . The UV light source  420  is optionally included, and when so included it is contemplated that interior surfaces of the housing have a UV-reflecting coating or are composed of UV-reflecting material, to enhance and improve the effectiveness of the UV light. While a single UV light source  420  is shown and positioned in  FIG. 4 , it will be understood that this is for illustrative purposes, and in practical use one or more such UV light sources can be provided, and their locations selected for improved effectiveness. It will be understood that all such variations would be within the ambit of skill of any one having skill in the art of UV light sources for use in purifying air. 
         [0040]    In the following, it will be understood that different types of fans and housings can be used, and different types of materials, power sources, and filter types can be used. All such variations would be within the ambit of skill of anyone having skill in the fan and fan housing arts, and all such variations are contemplated as being within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0041]    Additionally, materials, paints, and colorings can be varied. Power sources can also be varied, including disposable batteries, rechargeable batteries, high capacity cell phone batteries, solar-power films and/or panels, solar-rechargeable batteries, and so on. The position and number of the air holes can be varied, the number and placement of UV light sources can be varied, and the location of the CO detector can be varied. All such variations are contemplated as being within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0042]      FIG. 5  is a side elevational view of the device  100  of  FIG. 1  as viewed from the right. The air flow path is schematically illustrated in this view. 
         [0043]      FIG. 6  is a front elevational view of the device  100  of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 7  a rear elevational view of the device  100  of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 8  is another embodiment of the device  100 , having a top air flow opening  103  and a top edge  102 . In this embodiment, it is contemplated that the interior would be similar to that show in  FIG. 4 , but the fan  60  would be a sideways fan like a laptop computer fan, to push air out of the top of the device  100 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 9  is a rear elevational view of the device  100  of  FIG. 8 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 10  is an assembly view of the device  100  of  FIGS. 8 and 9 . 
         [0048]      FIG. 11  is side elevational view of the device  100  of  FIG. 8  as viewed from the right. 
         [0049]      FIG. 12  is a front elevational view of the device  100  of  FIGS. 8-11 . 
         [0050]      FIG. 13  is a rear elevational view of the device  100  of  FIGS. 8-11 . 
         [0051]      FIG. 14  is a schematic side view of a tiltable air outlet portion usable in the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-7 . The tiltable portion uses a pivot  70  to allow pivoting of the air outlet  30  between position A outside the housing  10  and position B inside the housing  10 . A side wall  14  of the housing  10  is visible in this view. In this embodiment, the air outlet portion would include a pair of side walls  31  (only one of which is visible in  FIG. 14 ). In this embodiment, the fan  60  would be carried by the tiltable portion and movable therewith, and is omitted from  FIG. 14  for the sake of clarity. The pivot  70  can be a bearing or pin, and another such pivot  70  would be disposed on an opposite side from that shown. Tiltable outlets are known for directing air flow, and any such tiltable mechanism can be used which is within the ambit of skill of any one in the air flow control art. 
         [0052]      FIG. 15  is a schematic side sectional view of a further embodiment of the present invention, having a UV light guide  80  adjacent to the lower panel  34 . The UV light guide  80  is for providing UV light to the filtered air exiting from the air outlet portion  30 . The UV light is directed such that it is generally parallel to the filter  32 , so that the UV light is directed across the filter  32 . Thus, the UV light does not shine outwardly of the device, and the UV light passing across the filter  32  is captured by the opposing portion of the housing  10  that exists opposite to the wall  34 . The UV light therefore does not pose a hazard to the user, and the UV light source is safely located within the housing  10  where it is not subject to external impacts or breakage. 
         [0053]    The UV light can be supplied, for example, by UV light from the UV bulb  420  shown in  FIG. 4 , or a separate UV source can be supplied. The light guide  80  can be a hollow mirrored channel, for example, or can be a solid thin material capable of carrying UV light. Alternatively, the light guide  80  can be composed of optical fiber materials bundled so as to form a sheet-like body, and the materials thereof are selected from those suitable for transmitting UV light. It is contemplated that the light guide  80  substantially spans the entire width of the panel  34  that coextends with the filter  34 , so as to provide coverage of most or all of the air exiting from the filter  32 . Additionally, the UV light can be focused prior to entering the light guide  80 , to increase the intensity. 
         [0054]    The invention being thus described, it will be evident that the same may be varied in many ways by a routineer in the applicable arts. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the claims.