Patent Publication Number: US-2003231993-A1

Title: Car air cleaning apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0002] The invention relates to a car air cleaning apparatus and, more particularly, to a car air cleaning apparatus that is internally provided with a power supply, and is further conveniently transportable and easily mounted within a car.  
       [0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art  
       [0004] As the number of cars and motorcycles rapidly increases, air pollution due to gas emission affects human health by causing various chronic diseases such as asthma. Therefore, car drivers may additionally install an internal air filter within their car. The air filter may be also optionally provided in the car when it is originally purchased. The air filter allows to maintain a relatively clean air within the car so that the driver is not affected by the external polluted air.  
       [0005] However, the air filter as conventionally provided is usually directly electrically connected to the power source of the car. Therefore, if the power source of the car is turned off, no operating power is supplied to the air filter that, consequently, cannot operate. Furthermore, not every car is provided with an air filter. In these situations, the driver thus has to endure an exposure to polluted air, which negatively affect his/her health.The traditional air filter therefore needs to be improved.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a car air cleaning apparatus that is internally provided with a power supply so as to maintain a normal air cleaning operation even if the power source of the car is turned off.  
       [0007] It is another object of the invention to provide a car air cleaning apparatus that is conveniently transportable, easily installed, and suitable for being mounted in cars that are not provided with air filters.  
       [0008] To accomplish the above and other objectives, a car air cleaning apparatus of the invention comprises a power charging plug mounted to a casing. A front side and a rear side of the casing are respectively provided with an air outlet and an air inlet. The casing is further internally provided with an ultraviolet lamp and a fan. Via a rotation of the fan, an external air flows in the casing through the air inlet, is subjected to deodorization and disinfecting actions by means of the ultraviolet lamp, and flows out through the air outlet to provide the interior of the car with a clean air. The casing is further internally provided with a set of power charging batteries to provide power, the batteries being electrically connected to the power charging plug.  
       [0009] To provide a further understanding of the invention, the following detailed description illustrates embodiments and examples of the invention, this detailed description being provided only for illustration of the invention.  
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0010] The drawings included herein provide a further understanding of the invention. A brief introduction of the drawings is as follows:  
     [0011]FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a car air cleaning apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention;  
     [0012]FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of a car air cleaning apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention; and  
     [0013]FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a car air cleaning apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT  
     [0014] Wherever possible in the following description, like reference numerals will refer to like elements and parts unless otherwise illustrated.  
     [0015] Referring to FIG. 1 through FIG. 3, the invention provides a car air cleaning apparatus that comprises a power charging plug  1  and a casing  2 .  
     [0016] The power charging plug  1  is used to electrically connect a power source in the car, such as a cigar lighter socket. A side of the power charging plug  1  is provided with an extension arm  11  at two lateral sides of which are respectively disposed a roller  12  and a protruding ring  13 .  
     [0017] The casing  2  is comprised of a front cover  21  and a rear cover  22  that are assembled with each other via screw elements. The front and rear covers  21 ,  22  respectively have inner sidewalls at an end portion that define a receiving base  23 . The casing  2  is mounted with the power charging plug  1  with the extension arm  11  rotatably arranged on the receiving base  23  and the roller  12  and protruding ring  13  respectively positioned on two arcuate edges  231  at two respective sides of the receiving base  23 . The casing  2  is thereby enabled to effectuate an upward/downward rotary adjustment with respect to the extension arm  11 . A front side and a rear side of the casing  2  are further respectively provided with an air outlet  211  and an air inlet  221 . On the front and rear covers  21 ,  22 , the air outlet  211  is comprised of a plurality of grooves that are approximately arranged in a disk shape, while the air inlet  221  is comprised of a plurality of grooves that are approximately arranged in a rectangle shape.  
     [0018] The casing  2  is internally provided with a fan  24 , an ultraviolet lamp  25 , a set of power charging batteries  26 , and a control circuit board  27 . The fan  24  is fastened on an inner surface of the front cover  21  proximate to the air outlet  211  by means of an attachment frame  28 . The ultraviolet lamp  25  is attached on an inner surface of the rear cover  22  proximate to the air inlet  221  by means of a plurality of adhesive tapes  222 . The attachment frame  28  is further attached to a protection pad  281  that abuts against the ultraviolet lamp  25 , thereby reinforcing the positioning and fastening of the ultraviolet lamp  25 . The power charging batteries  26  are disposed at an adequate position in the casing  2  and is electrically connected to the power charging plug  1  via the control circuit board  27 . The power charging batteries  26  supply the fan  24  and the ultraviolet lamp  25  with necessary operating voltage. The control circuit board  27  is arranged at another end portion within the casing  2 , and is sideways provided with a switch  271  that is externally exposed out of the casing  2 . The control circuit board  27  charges the power charging batteries  26  with power, and is further capable of determining the amount of power stored in the power charging batteries  26  to provide an adequate power charging until the power charging batteries  26  are completely full, after which the power charging is automatically stopped.  
     [0019] In utilization, the power charging plug  1  is inserted in the power source socket of the car. By turning on the switch  271  of the casing  2 , the fan  24  then rotates and the ultraviolet lamp  25  is lighted up. External air hence flows in the casing  2  through the air inlet  221 , and via the ultraviolet irradiation from the ultraviolet lamp  25 , the external air is subject to deodorization and disinfecting actions. Thereafter, the cleaned air flows out through the air outlet  211 , achieving an air cleaning cycle. The interior cabin of the car hence is provided with a clean air. If the voltage supplied by the power charging batteries  26  is not sufficient, power charging can be achieved via the power source of the car to which is electrically connected the power charging plug  1 . After the power charging batteries  26  are full, power charging is automatically stopped. The power charging batteries  26  can be therefore maintained in a state of sufficient power at any time. Even if the car power source is turned off, the air cleaning operation can still be maintained by means of the power charging batteries  26 , provided the switch  271  is turned on.  
     [0020] As described above, the air cleaner for car therefore includes at least the following advantages:  
     [0021] (1) Via power charging batteries internally incorporated, the air cleaning apparatus of the invention can maintain a normal air cleaning operation even if the car power source is not turned on. When the voltage provided by the power charging batteries is too low, the batteries can be recharged via connection to the power source socket of the car.  
     [0022] (2) The air cleaning apparatus of the invention is lightweight and easily transportable. Furthermore, the mounting is easily achieved via connecting the power charging plug to the power source socket of the car. The air cleaning apparatus of the invention can be therefore installed within cars that are not provided with air filters.  
     [0023] It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above description is only illustrative of specific embodiments and examples of the invention. The invention should therefore cover various modifications and variations made to the herein-described structure and operations of the invention, provided they fall within the scope of the invention as defined in the following appended claims.