Patent Publication Number: US-6210267-B1

Title: Apparatus and method for use of an air rail

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is related to U.S. Provisional Application, Serial No. 60/076,265, filed Feb. 27, 1998 and U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/081,385 filed Apr. 10, 1998, both for an AIR RAIL, invented by Shane Long and David Warren, and both of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     In the gaming industry, second hand smoke is an ongoing problem for dealers, pit bosses, employees, and customers alike. Second hand smoke creates unpleasant working conditions and is a health hazard. It has been known for over a decade that second hand smoke is nearly as likely to cause lung cancer as direct smoke itself. Casinos, however, want their customers to enjoy themselves. More specifically, casinos encourage their patrons to enjoy things like gambling, drinking, and smoking. Indeed, outside of some smokey pubs, bars, taverns, and saloon&#39;s, casinos are the last refuge for the smoker. 
     Unfortunately for the casino dealer, the heavy smoking of the clientele does not make life easier, more enjoyable, or healthier. When dealing at a casino gaming table, such as a blackjack table, the dealer is often confronted with a table full of smokers. The smokers often do not care what direction their exhaled smoke goes in, or worse, they directly aim it towards the dealer. Furthermore, the circulation in casinos often causes the smoke to be blown towards the dealer no matter where the smokers aim it. 
     Outside of the casino environment, there are many similar situations of unwanted smoke, air, odors, or vapors. In the aforementioned bars, taverns, pubs, and saloons there are many bartenders who do not want to be exposed to second hand smoke. In shops and labs, many people deal with chemicals and other material that produce unwanted vapors. Likewise, there are many similar situations with unwanted odors. 
     What is needed is an apparatus that inhibits and/or hampers the amount of smoke, vapors, and odors a person is exposed to. 
     What is needed is an apparatus that checks, constrains, or reduces the amount of smoke, vapors, and odors a person is exposed to. 
     What is needed is an apparatus that limits, restricts, and/or minimizes the amount of smoke, vapors, and odors a person is exposed to. 
     What is needed is an apparatus that protects and/or shields a person from smoke, vapors, and odors. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is generally an apparatus that reduces, minimizes, or eliminates the amount of smoke vapor or odor that a person at a table is exposed to. More specifically, the invention creates a barrier of air interposed between the protected person and the air borne nuisance. Preferably, the barrier of air is created using an air rail. 
     Generally, the air rail comprises a fan, a conduit, and an air outlet. The fan moves air or creates an air flow, a substantial portion of which moves through the air conduit and exits out the air outlet. The exited air is interposed between the person and the smoke. The interposed air creates a barrier of air in front of the person at the table which reduces or prevents the smoke reaching the person. The air rail is generally mounted on the side or edge of the table closest to the person being shielded or protected from the smoke or other airborne nuisance. 
     It is an object of this invention to create an apparatus that inhibits and/or hampers the amount of smoke, vapors, and odors a person is exposed to. 
     It is an object of this invention to create an apparatus that checks, constrains, or reduces the amount of smoke, vapors, and odors a person is exposed to. 
     It is an object of this invention to create an apparatus that limits, restricts, and/or minimizes the amount of smoke, vapors, and odors a person is exposed to. 
     It is an object of this invention to create an apparatus that protects and/or shields a person from smoke, vapors, and odors. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows a side view of an embodiment of the air rail. 
     FIGS. 2 a  and  2   b  show perspective views of an embodiment of the invention with eddies. 
     FIG. 3 shows a side view of an embodiment of the invention with a varied air barrier. 
     FIG. 4 shows a side view of an embodiment of the invention with a plurality of air outlet groupings. 
     FIGS. 5 a  and  5   b  show side views of embodiments of the invention with adjustable air vents. 
     FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of an adjustable air vent of an embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention with a flexible air conduit. 
     FIGS. 8 a ,  8   b , and  8   c  show end, front and back views of the fan, transition piece and a portion of the conduit of an embodiment of the invention. 
     FIGS. 9 a ,  9   b , and  9   c  show perspective views of the fan, transition piece and a portion of the conduit of an embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The invention relates to an apparatus that eliminates, hampers, inhibits, checks, constrains, refrains, restricts, limits, reduces, or minimizes exposure to second-hand smoke or other air-bourne contaminants. More particularly, it relates to an air rail for use on a table that is not only simple to use, but is also reliable, durable, and easy to manufacture. The air rail shields a person at a table by creating a positive air flow up and away from the shielded person. If, for example, there are other people smoking at the table, the shielded person is shielded from the smoke. This positive air flow is generally at a 90 degree or smaller angle away from the top of the table or surface that the air rail is mounted on. For ease of description the air rail examples are described as being used to block smoke, however, the embodiments may be used for any airborne nuisances or contaminants. Likewise, the shielded person may be a dealer, agent, vendor, bartender, pit boss, pit runner, pit manager, waiter, waitress, machinist, cook, or any one else exposed to smoke, contaminants, or other airborne nuisances. 
     A preferred embodiment of the air rail  30  is shown in FIG.  1 . The air rail  30  comprises a fan  32  and a conduit  34 . The fan  32  intakes air, moves air and/or creates an air flow. Generally, the CFM of the fan  32  ranges from 8 CFM to 60 CFM. Preferably, the fan  32  has a CFM of 24. The fan  32  ordinarily comprises an air intake  36 , a fan outlet (not shown), blades (not shown), a motor (not shown), and an on/off switch  38 . The air intake  36  is an opening that allows the fan  32  to intake air. As shown in FIG. 1, the fan  32  may have fan vents  40  that regulate the amount of air that is taken in and that prevent fingers and clothing from touching the fan blades. The air intake  36  is generally aligned in the same manner as the fan  32  itself. In FIG. 1, the fan  32  and the air intake  36  are aligned vertically, but, the air intake  36  may also be positioned horizontally or at any other angle. 
     The fan outlet is an opening that allows the moved air or air flow to exit the fan and enter the conduit  34 . The fan  32  and the conduit  34  are generally connected at the fan outlet of the fan  32 . The fan outlet can connect to the conduit in a variety of ways. For example, the fan outlet can have a male end (not shown) which slides inside a female end (not shown) on the conduit  34 , or vice-versa. Alternatively, the fan outlet can be molded or glued to the conduit  34  during the manufacturing of the conduit  34 . Other means of connecting the fan  32  to the conduit are discussed below. 
     The blades are located within the fan  32 , and when the blades turn, they intake the air through the intake  36  and move the air and/or create the air flow. The blades are generally aligned perpendicular to the direction of the air flow through the conduit, although the blades may be aligned parallel to this air flow. 
     The motor is located within the fan  32 , and when on, the motor turns the blades, to cause the blades to move the air and/or create the air flow. The motor may turn the blades directly or indirectly, through a belt or similar means. The motor generally has one speed, although it may have multiple speeds, thus providing for adjustability. The motor is preferably a DC motor, in which case the fan  32  also has a AC/DC converter  42 . A DC motor is safer in an environment where drinks are often spilled. The fan  32  may also have a quick-disconnect  44  which may be used to cut off power to the fan  32  to prevent electrocution or any other mishap. Likewise, the fan  32  may have a fuse, a circuit breaker, an automatic or safety shut-off, and/or manual shut-off for protecting the fan and the person from short-circuits, voltage spikes, electrocution or any other problem associated with an electrical device. The on/off switch  38  may be located at any conveniently accessible position on the fan  32 . The fan  32  may also have a filter (not shown) which filters the air and keeps the fan clean. It is noted that a commercially available, off-the-shelf fan may be used. 
     The conduit  34  is preferably connected to the fan  32 , as shown in FIG. 1, so that a substantial portion of the air moved or air flow created by the fan  32  enters and travels through the conduit  34 . The conduit  34  is placed on the end or side of the table (not shown) where the person (not shown) being shielded is standing or sitting. The conduit  34  may be connected to the top, edge, or side of the table at the end or side where the air rail is placed. The preferred length of the conduit  34  depends on the length of the end or side of the table where it is placed. The conduit should be approximately as long as the table end or side. For a typical casino gaming table, the conduit length would be approximately four feet. The height of the conduit  34  can range between approximately 1 inch and 6 inches, but, is preferably approximately 3 inches. As illustrated by these dimensions and the Figures, the conduit  34  is generally rectangular in shape, although the top surface with may be rounded. In alternative embodiments, the conduit  34  may be cylindrical, triangular, pyramidal, or a variety of other shapes. Furthermore, the width of the conduit may range between ¼ inch to 3 inches, but, is preferably approximately 1 inch. The conduit may be made of a variety of materials, including, plastics, plexiglass, wood, poly-carbon, aluminum (similar to aluminum air ducts), composite material, metal, natural, or man-made materials. 
     Referring to FIG. 1, the conduit  34  has an air outlet  46  that allows the air to exit the conduit  34 . Generally, the air outlet  46  is located on the top surface of the conduit  34  and comprises a plurality of holes or vents, as shown in FIG.  1 . The size of the air outlet  46  is variable, but, it can range from holes or vents with a diameter of approximately one sixteenth ({fraction (1/16)}) of an inch to two inches to a hole or vent as long as conduit and a sixteenth ({fraction (1/16)}) of an inch wide to 2 inches wide. The holes or vents are preferably circular, although they may be rectangular, square, or a variety of different shapes. Generally, spacing of the holes or vents varies from a quarter (¼) inch to a foot or greater. In the preferred embodiment, the holes or vents are circular with a one-quarter inch (¼″) diameter, spaced two inches apart, and are positioned at a 60° angle above the plane of the table and 30° from a line through the center of the top of the conduit. One method of creating the holes or vents is to drill through the top of the conduit with a one-quarter inch (¼″) drill bit at the desired angle. 
     A substantial portion of the air that travels through the conduit  34  exits through the air outlet  46 . This exited air  48  is interposed between the shielded person and the smoke (not shown) to create a barrier  50  between the shielded person and the smoke and/or restrict the amount of smoke that reaches the shielded person. The number of the holes or vents, the location of the holes or vents, and the size of the holes or vents affect the size and shape of this barrier  50 . The exited air  48  is interposed in a generally vertical direction or at an angle slanting away from the shielded person. Preferably, the interposed air rolls away from the shielded person and towards the smoke at the top or peak of its trajectory. 
     The air rail  30  may create the barrier  50  or minimize the amount of smoke that the shielded person is exposed to by creating various eddies  52  in the air flow, as shown in FIGS. 2 a  and  2   b . The eddies  52  are created when the exiting air  48  rolls over in a circular motion and is blown back upwards again or when the exiting air  48  causes neighboring air to roll, as seen in FIGS. 2 a  and  2   b . The eddies  52  may be created by varying the air flow, the shape of the air outlet  46 , the relative positioning of the air outlet  46 , or in any other manner normally used to create eddies  52 . For example, if two adjacent outlets are positioned so that the air flows exiting from each crosses, eddies  52  may be created. The eddies  52  should roll away from the shielded person to keep the smoke away from the shielded person. The eddies may break-up the smoke, block the smoke, and/or diffuse the smoke. 
     Referring to FIGS. 2 a  and  2   b , the eddies  52  may be created at a variety of heights above the air outlet  46 . For example, the eddies  52  may created anywhere from directly above the air outlet  46  to thirty-six inches above the air outlet  46  or higher. The eddies  52  may have a variety of diameters, ranging from one-eighth (⅛ inch) to eight (8) inches or larger. Likewise, there may be any number of eddies  52 , from one eddy to hundreds of eddies  52 . 
     The air rail  30  may also create a barrier  50  that varies in size and strength along the length of the conduit  34 . FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the air rail  30  where the air outlet  46  is configured so that the exited air  48  is fanned out at varying heights along the length of the conduit  34 . This creates a barrier  50  that is stronger or more impenetrable in certain predetermined areas. The advantage of this is that the air rail  30  may be adjusted to compensate for more smoke on one side, area, or portion of the table or coming from one direction. Likewise, the varied exited air  48  could help adjust for the ambient or existing airflow in the room. The varied exited air  48  may be achieved with adjustable holes or vents, where the size of the hole or vent may be increased or decreased, for example, by tightening a screw, a knob, or sliding a cover over the hole or vent. Likewise, the varied exited air  48  may also be achieved by increasing the number of fans  32  and varying the location of the fans  32 . 
     The air rail  30  may also be designed, as seen in FIG. 4, so that the air outlet  46  is a plurality of separate groupings  54  or holes or vents. With the two groupings  54  shown in FIG. 4, the air outlet  46  creates two separate barriers  50  to smoke. Similar to the embodiment seen in FIG. 3, this is particularly effective when the smoke is flowing in particular areas, portions, or sides of the table. The groupings  54  may be located in the position found most effective to create a barrier  50  and prevent smoke from reaching the shielded person. 
     As noted above and shown in FIG. 4, the fan  32  may be positioned horizontally. With the fan  32  positioned as such, the intake  36  will generally also be aligned horizontally. The intake  36  may be located on the top of the fan  32 , as depicted in FIG. 4, or on the bottom of the fan  32 . 
     The vents or holes that comprise the air outlet  46  do not have to be stationary, but, may be moveable and adjustable. Accordingly, FIGS. 5 a  and  5   b  depict an embodiment of the air rail  30  in which the air outlet  46  is or includes adjustable vents  56 . The adjustable air vents can be a variety of shapes and sizes. For example, they may the size and shape of a adjustable vent found in an automobile dashboard. Likewise, they may be the size and shape of adjustable vents in airplanes or trains. The adjustable vents  56  may be adjusted to change the direction of the exited air  48 . The adjustable vents  56  may change the exited air  48  direction vertically, horizontally, rotatably, up and down, and side to side, as seen in FIG. 5 a . The adjustable vents  56  may be, for example, on rollers, pivots, hinges, ball bearings, threads, or slides. To change the direction of the exited air  48  vertically and horizontally, for example, the adjustable vent  56  would be pivoted upwards or downwards, as shown in FIG.  5   b . Likewise, if the adjustable vents  56  were on ball bearings, or were otherwise rotatable, the vents  56  could be turned circularly to change the direction of air flow. Such rotatable vents  56  would allow the changing of the direction of the exited air flow from forward and away from the shielded person to backwards and towards the shielded person, towards the left, or towards the right, as shown in FIG. 5 c . Given the often unpredictable environmental conditions in a casino, this adjustability could prove useful. 
     As shown in FIG. 5 a , the adjustable vents  56  are on tracks that let them slide along the length of the conduit  34 . Wheels, ball bearing or other means that let them slide could be substituted. The adjustable vents  56 , therefore, allow for the creation of a variety of air outlet  46  configurations. The air vents may be grouped together to create a large barrier  50  or they may be grouped separately to create a plurality of barriers  50 . The adjustable vents  56  give the shielded person more control over the barrier  50  and allow the shielded person to compensate for different environmental conditions. 
     FIGS. 6 a  and  6   b  shows the air outlet portion of an air rail  30  with another variety of adjustable vent  56 . In this embodiment, the adjustable vent  56  has a plurality of openings  58 , a vent cover  60 , and a rib  62 . The openings  58  may be completely open, in which case the exited air  48  will produce a wide barrier  50 . The rib  62  moves the vent cover  60 . The shielded person, therefore, could move the rib  62  to move the vent cover  60  and reduce the size of the openings  58 . The shielded person therefore, can use the ribs  62  to adjust the air outlet  46  to increase or decrease the exited airflow  48 . Alternatively, the adjustable vent  56  may also be constructed to be rotatable within the conduit  34 , thereby allowing the barrier  50  to be created at different angles. For example, when the vent cover  60  is 90% closed, the opening is aimed at a small height above the table of surface the air rail was mounted on. However, if the adjustable vent  56  were rotated counter-clockwise, the opening would be aimed at a greater height. 
     The conduit  34  does not have to be a set shape or length. Rather, as FIG. 7 shows, the air rail  30  may have a flexible conduit  34 . This flexible conduit  34  is comprised of flex line  66  and may be made of a variety of flexible or malleable materials, including rubber, plastic, composite, man-made or natural material. The flexible conduit  34  typically has approximately the same size range as described above for the conduit  34 . The flex line  66  is positioned along an existing rail or trim on one side of a table. Preferably, the flex line  66  may be secured to the existing rail with a lip (not shown) or other connecting means. For example, an existing table railing, molding, or padding (not shown) could be removed, the flex line  66  placed on the edge of the table, and the railing remounted so that it applies a pressure on the lip and holds the flex line  66  in place. As shown in FIG. 7, the flexible conduit  34  may be comprised of a plurality of flex lines  66 . A plurality of flex lines  66  allow for greater ease in use and installation, as well as a greater variety of configurations. The flex lines  66  are connected to each other and to the fan  32  with a connector  68 , which securely holds them together. 
     FIGS. 8 a ,  8   b , and  8   c  show a section of the air rail  30  in greater detail than the FIGS. 1 through 7. As seen in FIG. 8 a , the present embodiment of the air rail  30  comprises a fan  32 , an conduit  34 , and a transition piece  70 . The fan  32  is similar to the fan  32  described above, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 4, and is positioned horizontally with the intake  36  (not shown) located on the bottom of the fan  32 . 
     The conduit  34  is also constructed similarly to the conduit  34  described above, with reference to FIGS. 1 to  7 . Referring again to FIG. 8 a , the conduit  34  also has an air chamber  72  and track guide  74 . The air chamber  72  is filled with the moved air or air flow created by the fan  32 . The track guide  74  is located in the air chamber, a the bottom of the conduit  34  and is comprised of two opposing tracks. The track guide  74  allows the transition piece  70  to connect with the conduit  34 , as is described below. 
     The transition piece  70  connects the fan  32  to the conduit  34  and allows the fan  32  to be placed at different positions along the conduit&#39;s  34  length. Although the transition piece can be a variety of sizes, the transition piece  70  is preferably approximately four to eight inches long, two to four inches tall, and one-half to one inch thick. Generally, the transition piece  70  will be approximately the same width as the conduit. The transition piece  70 , as shown in FIGS. 8 a ,  8   b , and  8   c , includes an air chamber intake  76 , an air chamber output (not shown), a DC adapter plug  78 , mounting screw holes  80 , an on/off switch  38 , and glide tracks  82 . The air chamber intake  76  is an opening that allows the moved air or air flow created by the fan  32  to enter the transition piece  70 , through the fan outlet, and pass through the air chamber output and into the conduit&#39;s  34  air chamber  72 . The fan  32  is mounted so that the fan outlet aligns with the air chamber intake  76  with a gasket  84  and mounting screws  86  (seen in FIG. 8 a ) that pass through the mounting screw holes  80 . The gasket  84  is secured to the fan  32  and has holes (not shown) for the screws  86  to pass through. When the screws  86  are tightened through the gasket  84 , the fan  32  is secured to the transition piece  70 . The on/off switch  38  turns the power, DC or AC, on and off. The DC adaptor plug  78  simply allows power from a DC adaptor to pass through a cord (not shown) and to the fan  32 . 
     The glide tracks  82  are indentations that run the length of the transition piece  70 . The transition piece  70  connects to the conduit  34  by sliding the glide tracks  82  over the track guides  74  of the conduit  34 . Connected as such, the transition piece  70  is slid along the track guides  74  to any position along the length of the conduit  34 . Therefore, the fan  32  can be placed at any position along the length of the conduit  34 . Likewise, additional transition pieces  70  and fans  32  can be added to the air rail. The variable positioning of the fan  32  or fans  32  provides greater flexibility in the installation and use of the air rail  30 . 
     One example of an air rail  30  construction and installation is as follows. Generally, the conduit  34  is built to a length appropriate for the table the air rail  30  is being installed on. Typically, for a standard  4  foot casino gaming table, the length of the conduit  34  would be approximately four feet. The fan  32  is then mounted on the transition piece  70 , using a screw  86  and gasket  84  as described above with reference to FIG. 8 a . Next, the transition piece  70  is connected to the conduit  34  with the glide track  82  as described above with reference to FIG. 8 a . The transition piece  70  and fan  32  are slid along the conduit  34  until the best position is found. A filler (not shown) is placed in the bottom of the conduit  34  to provide an air-tight seal of the opening on the bottom of the conduit  34  not covered by the transition piece  70 . The filler is typically made of the same material as the conduit  34  or transition piece  70 , and is designed to fit in the bottom of the conduit  34 , resting on the track guides  74 . Both ends of the conduit  34  are sealed, and the air rail  30  is ready to be installed. 
     The air rail  30  is installed by connecting the conduit  34  to the table. For example, in one embodiment the conduit  34  has screw or bolt holes and is screwed or bolted to the table through the screw or bolt holes. Alternatively, an adhesive could be used to connect the conduit  34  to the table. 
     FIGS. 9 a ,  9   b , and  9   c  show an alternative embodiment of the air rail  30  that also allows the fan  32  to be placed, mounted, and/or installed anywhere along the length of the conduit  34 . In FIG. 9 a , the transition piece  70  is an elbow  88  with an air chamber intake  76  a left outlet  8  and a right outlet  90 . The air chamber intake  76  is connected to the fan  32  by sliding the intake  76  into an opening (not shown) in the fan  32 . The air chamber intake  76  allows the moved air or air flow created by the fan  32  to enter the air chamber  72  of the conduit  34 . When the fan is located at one end of the conduit  34 , the end of the conduit  34  is placed in either the left outlet  89  or right outlet  90  of the elbow  88  and a cap  92  is placed on the other outlet, as shown in FIG. 9 b . If the fan  32  is located somewhere, such as the middle of the conduit  34 , other than the end of the conduit  34 , the conduit  34  is cut into two pieces at the point where the fan  32  is to be located. The opposing ends of the conduit  34  pieces are placed in the left outlet  89  and right outlet  90  of the elbow  88 , as shown in FIG. 9 c . The conduit  34  fits tightly into the outlets and is thus held in by pressure. However, the conduit  34  may be held in place by glue or screws. The glue would be placed on the ends of the conduit  34  being placed into the outlets, while the screws would be screwed through transition piece  70  and into the conduit  34 . 
     The air rail  30  has been described above as being used with a table, and is generally envisioned being used on a gaming table and blocking smoke. In most casinos, the gaming tables will be used in a room with a floor and a ceiling. However, gaming tables may be used in open air casinos without ceilings. Furthermore, it is noted, however, that the air rail  30  may be used in any locale where air borne nuisances are a problem for the shielded person. For example, the air rail  30  may be used on a bar so that it shields bartenders from the smoke of bar patrons. The air rail  30  may be whatever length is necessary to be used on a bar or any other place. Ideally, to create a sufficient barrier, there should be more than one fan. A fan  32  for every six feet of the conduit  34  operates well. However, with better conditions or fan power, the distance between fans may be increased. 
     The terms and descriptions used here are set forth by way of illustration only and are not meant as limitations. Those skilled in the art will recognize that numerous variations are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.