Patent Publication Number: US-9844306-B1

Title: Downdraft table for cleaning electronic equipment

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed toward a downdraft table and more particularly, toward a downdraft table that is particularly adapted for use in cleaning electronic equipment such as computers and the like. 
     Downdraft tables are, per se, well known in various arts. They are comprised essentially of a table or supporting work surface on which various manufacturing or fabricating activities can be carried out. The table is normally in the form of a grid or perforated surface and includes a fan below the table surface that draws fumes or airborne particulate matter downwardly to protect the workman from the same. A filter is frequently located between the fan and the table surface to capture noxious fumes or particulate matter before the filtered air is expelled into the surrounding atmosphere. 
     Downdraft tables have also been used for cleaning various articles or pieces of equipment. This is necessary when the cleaning process produces gases or debris or particles (such as dust) that must be removed and this is particularly true if the gases or particles may be harmful to the worker cleaning the equipment. 
     It is well known that computers or similar pieces of electronic equipment accumulate significant amounts of dust that can interfere with their operation by causing overheating or other problems. It is believed that downdraft tables could be useful when cleaning such pieces of equipment. However, the cleaning of computers is usually done using compressed air and, most frequently, canned compressed air. Such cans do not hold very much air and are useful, therefore, for relatively small cleaning jobs. Larger cleaning jobs would require several cans or an alternate source of compressed air. To Applicant&#39;s knowledge, no one has ever proposed combining a source of compressed air with a downdraft table so that computers and other electronic equipment could be efficiently and economically cleaned on the table. 
     Thus, there is a need for a downdraft table with a source of compressed air that can be used for cleaning computers and other electronic equipment. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is designed to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art discussed above. It is an object of the present invention to provide a downdraft table that is particularly adapted for use in cleaning electronic equipment such as computers and the like. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a downdraft table for cleaning electronic equipment that includes a source of compressed air for use in cleaning. 
     It is an even further object of the present invention to provide a downdraft table that is particularly adapted for use in cleaning computers or other electronic equipment that can protect the equipment from damage by grounding the same. 
     In accordance with illustrative embodiments demonstrating features and advantages of the present invention, there is provided a downdraft table for cleaning computers and other electronic equipment that includes a housing in the form of a cabinet having a grid-like upper support surface with openings therein. A fan located within the housing below the upper support surface draws air from above the surface downwardly through the grid. An air compressor and compressed air storage tank are also located within the housing below the upper support surface for producing a source of compressed air and a hose is connected to the compressed air storage tank and extends upwardly above the upper support surface. An air nozzle connected to the hose allows a workman to direct compressed air toward a piece of electronic equipment located on the upper support surface. The upper support surface preferably includes a turntable that is adapted to support the piece of electronic equipment thereon thereby allowing the equipment to be rotated about a vertical axis as it is being cleaned with the compressed air. In addition, a ground wire is connected to the housing and extends downwardly from above the upper support surface. The ground wire includes a spring clip at the distal end thereof which is adapted to be connected to the piece of electronic equipment for grounding the same. 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the accompanying drawings one form that is presently preferred; it being understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a downdraft table of the invention for use in cleaning electronic equipment; 
         FIG. 2  is a front elevational view and partial cross-sectional view with portions broken away to expose some of the inner components of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a left side elevational view of  FIG. 2  with portions broken away; 
         FIG. 4  is a rear perspective view showing the ground wire connected to the rear of a computer being cleaned, and 
         FIG. 5  is a partial exploded perspective view illustrating the details of the filtering system of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference numerals have been used throughout the various figures to designate like elements, there is shown in  FIG. 1  a downdraft table that is particularly adapted for use in cleaning electronic equipment such as computers and the like constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and designated generally as  10 . 
     The downdraft table  10  includes a housing  12  in the form of a cabinet which may be mounted on wheels  14  so as to be movable. The housing  12  includes an upper support surface  16  which is in the form of a grid with openings therein as is best seen in  FIG. 5 . As shown most clearly in  FIG. 2 , located beneath the upper support surface  16  and within the housing or cabinet  12  is a fan  18  which draws air from above the surface  16  downwardly through the grid  16 . The air is then exhausted through the bottom  20  of the housing  12 . The air flow is illustrated by the arrows shown in  FIG. 2 . All of the foregoing is somewhat conventional and is similar to other downdraft tables currently available in the marketplace. 
     As shown most clearly in  FIG. 2 , also located within the housing  12  and below the upper support surface  16  are an air compressor  22  and a compressed air storage tank  24 . Power to the fan  18  and to the air compressor  22  is provided through the electrical cord  26  which can be plugged into a standard 110 volt outlet. Switches  28  at the front of the housing  12  can be used to control the fan  18  and the air compressor  22  in the manner well known in various arts. 
     Connected to the compressed air storage tank  24  is a flexible hose  30  that can extend upwardly above the upper support surface  16 . An air nozzle  32  which can be selectively operated by pressing the trigger  34  is used to direct compressed air  36  toward a piece of electronic equipment such as shown at  38  located on the upper support surface  16 . 
     In the embodiment of the invention shown in the figures, the electronic equipment  38  is illustrated as a personal computer. It should be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention can be used to clean substantially any type of electronic equipment. Dust, dirt and other debris that is blown out of the computer  38  through the use of the compressed air  36  is drawn down through the upper support surface  16  by the air flow caused by the fan  18 . 
     To prevent contaminated air from being exhausted to the surrounding atmosphere through the bottom of the housing  12 , one or more filters such as shown at  40  and  42  are located beneath the support surface  16 . As shown, the filter  40  may be of the pleated synthetic fabric type contained within an outer frame while the filter  42  may be an unwoven or woven mat or foam-type filter. As should be readily apparent, however, various different types of filters may be used. It is preferable that the filters  40  and  42  be washable and reusable. 
     In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the housing  12  is constructed entirely of sheet metal and includes a back wall  44  and left and right side walls  46  and  48 , all of which extend upwardly above the upper support surface  16 . A top wall  50  which may include an electric light  52  is secured to the upper edges of the walls  44 ,  46  and  48 . The top wall  50  and the walls  44 ,  46  and  48  form somewhat of an enclosure to help contain dust and other debris that is being cleaned out of the electronic equipment  38 . To improve the portability of the table  10 , it is also possible to construct any or all of the walls  44 ,  46 ,  48  and  50  so as to be easily removable (preferably without the need for tools) or to have them capable of folding out of the way. 
     Although the table  10  is referred to as a downdraft table and is arranged such that air is drawn downwardly through the support surface  16 , it is not beyond the scope of the present invention to construct the support surface  16  as a solid surface and to locate the filters in the back wall  44 . It is also possible to include filters in both the back wall  44  and the support surface  16 . 
     It is known in the art that static electricity can sometimes build up when equipment is being cleaned utilizing compressed air. It is also known that this static electricity can sometimes damage sensitive parts of the electronic equipment. To help prevent such damage, the spring coiled ground wire  54  has one end secured to the top 50 of the housing  12  and includes an alligator clip or other type of spring clip  56  at the distal end thereof. As best shown in  FIG. 4 , the spring clip  56  is secured to the metal chassis (or to any other desired part) of the computer  38  in order to ground the same and prevent the buildup of static electricity. 
     In order to facilitate the cleaning of the computer  38  from various sides, a turntable  58  is located on the upper support surface  16 . The turntable  58  can take various forms. It may, for example, have an upper circular surface such as shown with a vertical axle extending downwardly with a bearing allowing rotation of the turntable. Alternatively, the turntable  58  could be in the nature of a lazy susan having upper and lower discs such as shown at  60  and  62  that rotate relative to each other in a known manner. In such a case, the turntable  58  would simply rest on the top of the upper support surface  16 . 
     The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.