Patent Publication Number: US-2021178311-A1

Title: Air purifier

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/947,187, filed on Dec. 12, 2019, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to air purifiers, and more particularly to portable air purifiers. 
     Generally, air purifiers use internal fans to draw air from a surrounding area into a filter to remove contaminants. Clean air is then directed out of the air purifier and back into the surrounding area. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one independent aspect, an air purifier includes a housing having an air inlet and an air outlet; a filter disposed adjacent the air inlet; a blower unit disposed within the housing to draw air through the air inlet and expel air through the air outlet, and a power receptacle configured to selectively receive power from a first type of power source and a second type of power source. The blower unit includes a motor and an impeller driven by the motor to induce an air flow, and rotation of the impeller induces air flow at a rate between approximately 400 cubic feet per minute and approximately  800  cubic feet per minute. 
     In another independent aspect, an air purifier includes a housing having an air inlet and an air outlet, a filter disposed adjacent the air inlet, a blower unit disposed within the housing to draw air through the air inlet and expel air through the air outlet, a battery receptacle configured to engage a battery for providing power to the motor, and a handle coupled to the housing to facilitate transportation of the air purifier. The blower unit includes a motor and an impeller driven by the motor to induce an air flow, and rotation of the impeller induces air flow at a rate between approximately  400  cubic feet per minute and approximately 800 cubic feet per minute. 
     In yet another independent aspect, an air purifier includes a housing, a filter, a blower unit, a battery receptacle supported by the housing, a battery removably coupled to the battery receptacle, and a switch to selectively energize the blower unit. The housing includes an air inlet, an air outlet, and an attachment portion positioned adjacent the air outlet. The air inlet includes a plurality of openings, and the attachment portion is configured to engage a hose. The filter is disposed adjacent the air inlet to filter air passing through the openings of the air inlet. The blower unit is disposed within the housing to draw air through the air inlet and expel air through the air outlet. The blower unit includes a motor and an impeller driven by the motor. The motor and impeller are positioned downstream relative to the filter, and rotation of the impeller draws air flow through the air inlet and through the filter. The battery receptacle is configured to engage a removable battery pack, and the removable battery pack provides power to the motor to drive rotation of the impeller. 
     Other aspects of the disclosure will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a rear perspective view of an air purifier. 
         FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of the air purifier of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic drawing of the air purifier of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is another schematic drawing of the air purifier of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of another air purifier according to another embodiment. 
     
    
    
     Before any embodiments of the disclosure are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The subject matter is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. Use of “including” and “comprising” and variations thereof as used herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled” and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. In addition, as used herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” and other directional terms are not intended to require any particular orientation, but are instead used for purposes of description only. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1-4  illustrate an air purifier  10  for use within an interior space, such as a room or enclosed area. The air purifier  10  pulls air from the interior space, removes dust, debris, and other contaminants from the air and blows clean air back into the interior space. The air purifier  10  is operable for both air filtration and dust collection. For dust collection, the air purifier  10  may include an air filter that gathers dust from the air of a wider area or may be dedicated to collect larger dust particles and debris. For air filtration, the air purifier  10  may collect smaller particulates such as odors, pollutants, viruses, bacteria, etc. The air purifier  10  is portable and may be used in a variety of environments. In some embodiments, the air purifier may be positioned on a job site (e.g., in a space being painted), in a crawlspace, in a patient room, etc. In some embodiments, the air purifier  10  may be positioned within the cabin of a work truck, an eighteen-wheeler, or an off-highway truck. In other embodiments, the air purifier  10  may include water filtration capabilities to filter water drawn into the air purifier  10 . Further, the air purifier  10  may dehumidify air drawn into the air purifier  10  from the interior space. 
     The air purifier  10  includes a housing  14 , a power receptacle  18 , a blower unit  20  ( FIG. 3 ), and a control system  22 . The housing  14  is generally box-shaped and includes a handle  26  on an upper side that a user may grab to carry the air purifier  10  to different rooms or areas. In other embodiments, the housing  14  may be mounted to a ceiling or another structure, as explained in detail below. 
     The housing  14  includes an air inlet  30  ( FIG. 1 ) and an air outlet  34  ( FIG. 2 ). In the illustrated embodiment, the air outlet  34  is positioned on an opposing side of the housing  14  from the air inlet  30 . The air inlet  30  includes a plurality of apertures that allow air to enter the housing  14  from the surrounding area. A filter  38  is positioned adjacent the air inlet  30 , and air passing through the air inlet  30  is drawn through the filter  38 . In the illustrated embodiment, the air filter  38  covers the entire air inlet  30 . In other embodiments, the air filter  38  may only cover a portion of the air inlet  30 . In some embodiments, the filter  38  may be a high efficiency particulate air filter (HEPA filter). In further embodiments, the filter  38  may be positioned within a housing that includes a cyclonic prefilter to improve the life of the filter  38 . The filter  38  may also be scented to provide air passing through the filter  38  with a fresh or clean scent. Alternatively, the air purifier  10  may include a reservoir for storing a fluid (e.g., essential oils) to be dispensed into the air. A mesh screen  42  is positioned adjacent the air outlet  34 . In some embodiments, the power receptacle  18  is a battery receptacle configured to receive a battery pack  44  (e.g., a DC power source) ( FIG. 3 ) that powers the blower unit  20 . The power receptacle  18  includes a cover  46  to protect the battery pack  44  or other power source when a power source is coupled to the power receptacle  18 . In the illustrated embodiment, the battery pack  44  is selectively removable from the power receptacle  18 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the air purifier  10  may be a hybrid in which the blower unit  20  is capable of being powered by both a DC power source (e.g., the battery pack  44 ) and an AC power source (e.g., a power cord  70 ). The power receptacle  18  is electrically coupled to the blower unit  20  to provide power to the blower unit  20 . The power receptacle  18  is operable to receive either a portion of the battery pack  44  or a portion of the power cord  70 . For example, the power receptacle  18  may include a foot receiver to which the battery pack  44  is coupled, and also may include an outlet to receive a plug or adapter of the power cord  70 . In some embodiments, the air purifier  10  may include a special power cord that is adapted to couple to the foot receiver discussed above or another portion of the power receptacle  18 . In further embodiments, the AC power source and the DC power source may be received by the power receptacle  18  simultaneously. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , in some embodiments, the air purifier  10  may include a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) or controller to detect the type of power being received by the power receptacle  18 . The PCBA or controller is operable to determine the type of current being received by the power receptacle  18  without user input and control the current to the blower unit  20 . Alternatively, in some embodiments, the air purifier  10  may include a toggle switch  74  positioned adjacent the power receptacle  18  to toggle the type of power source that is providing power through the power receptacle  18 . For example, a user may actuate the toggle switch  74  between a first mode (e.g., an AC power mode) in which the power receptacle  18  is operable to receive current from the power cord  70 , and a second mode (e.g., a DC power mode) in which the power receptacle  18  is operable to receive current from the battery pack  44 . The air purifier  10  may further include an inverter or a converter to change the electrical current received from the power source (e.g., the battery pack  44  or the power cord  70 ) to match the type of electrical current required for the blower unit  20 . 
     As mentioned, the blower unit  20  is disposed within the housing  14  in a position downstream from the filter  38 . The blower unit  20  includes a blower housing  76 , a motor  78 , and a blower  82  (e.g., a fan blade or an impeller) coupled to the motor  78 . The motor  78  and the blower  82  are positioned within the blower housing  76 . The blower housing  76  includes an air inlet  86  and an air outlet  90 . The air outlet  90  is positioned adjacent the air outlet  34  of the housing  14 . Power provided to the power receptacle  18  powers the motor  78  to rotate the blower  82 . Rotation of the blower  82  draws an airflow  94  (indicated with arrows) from the area surrounding the air purifier  10  through the air inlet  30  and the filter  38 . Dust, debris, and other air contaminants are trapped and removed from the air by the filter  38 . Clean air from the airflow  94  is then drawn into the air inlet  86  of the blower housing  76  by the blower  82 . The airflow  94  passing though the air purifier  10  may additionally cool the motor  78  and other electronics within the housing  14 . The airflow  94  is then expelled from the air outlet  90  of the blower housing  76  and through the air outlet  34  and back into the surrounding areas. In some embodiments, the blower unit  20  is operable to induce an airflow within a range between approximately 300 cubic feet per minute and approximately 800 cubic feet per minute (CFM). In other embodiments, the blower unit  20  may induce an airflow that is less than 300 cubic feet per minute or more than 800 cubic feet per minute. For example, for applications where the air purifier  10  is to be used for desktop air purification, the blower unit  20  may be operable to induce an airflow within the range of approximately 70 CFM and 350 CFM. Additionally, for applications where the air purifier  10  is to be used for room air purification, the blower unit  20  may be operable to induce an airflow between approximately 400 CFM and 600 CFM. Further, for applications where the air purifier  10  is to be used for room air filtration, the blower unit  20  may be operable to induce an airflow between approximately 300 cubic feet per minute and approximately 500 cubic feet per minute. In addition, in applications where the air purifier  10  is to be used for larger workshop air filtration (e.g., mainly dust particulate), the blower unit  20  may be operable to induce an airflow between approximately 400 CFM and 700 CFM. Furthermore, in applications where the air purifier  10  is dedicated to dust collection within a room, the blower unit  20  may be operable to induce an airflow between approximately 500 CFM and 800 CFM. Moreover, in applications where the air purifier  10  is dedicated to dust collection within a large shop that may include large sanders and planers, the blower unit  20  may be operable to induce an airflow between 800 CFM and 1000 CFM. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the air outlet  90  of the blower housing  76  expels the airflow  94  directly into the air outlet  34  of the housing  14 . In other embodiments, the air outlet  90  of the blower housing  76  may expel the airflow  94  adjacent the air outlet  34  of the housing  14  to be expelled through the air outlet  34 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the air inlet  30  defines an inlet port  98  that is in communication with the surrounding air outside of the air purifier  10 . The inlet port  98  includes a first vacuum attachment portion  102  that is may be connected to a vacuum hose. The vacuum hose may be used to draw air through the air inlet  30  containing large particulates  130 . The air outlet  34  defines an exhaust port  106  that is in communication with the surrounding air outside the air purifier  10 . The exhaust port  106  defines a second vacuum attachment portion  110  that may be connected to a vacuum hose. The vacuum hose may direct the airflow  94  and particulates within the airflow  94  that is being expelled through the exhaust port  106  into another device to be further purified. Alternatively, the vacuum hose may direct the particulates within the airflow  94  into a storage container to be safely stored. In some embodiments, the air purifier  10  may only include one vacuum attachment portion adjacent either the inlet port  98  or the exhaust port  106 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the air purifier  10  also includes an ultraviolet unit  114  (UV). The UV unit  114  includes an ultraviolet light that is capable of further sanitizing and purifying a fluid drawn into the housing  14 . The UV unit  114  is disposed within a pathway of the airflow  94 . In the illustrated embodiment, the UV unit  114  is positioned downstream of the filter  38 . In other embodiments, the UV unit  114  may be positioned upstream of the filter  38  or connected to the filter  38  so that air drawn into the air purifier  10  is filtered and sanitized simultaneously. In further embodiments, the air purifier  10  may include a device that provides electrostatic and ionic filtering to the airflow  94 . In other embodiments, the air purifier  10  may include a heating element that heats the airflow  94  as it passes through the air purifier  10 , and/or may include a misting device that releases a vapor into the airflow  94 . 
     The air purifier  10  also includes a satellite attachment receptacle  118 . The satellite attachment receptacle  118  is supported by the housing  14  and is configured to receive a satellite attachment  126  such as a remote fume extractor or a remote paint booth. The satellite attachment  126  may assist in containing particulate and other particles within the airflow  94 . The satellite attachment receptacle  118  may be electrically coupled to the power receptacle  18  to power electronics of the satellite attachment  126 . 
     The air purifier  10  also includes a lighting unit  122  is supported by the housing  14 . The lighting unit  122  includes a light for illuminating an area around the air purifier  10 . In some embodiments, the light may include light emitting diodes (LEDs). 
     Operation of the air purifier  10  may be controlled by the control system  22 . In the illustrated embodiment, the control system  22  is located adjacent the air outlet  34 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the control system  22  includes a control board  50 . In the illustrated embodiment, a user may interact with the control board  50  via one or more user input features (e.g., buttons  58 ,  62 ), and/or may interact by an external device (e.g., a remote control  54 , a smart phone, etc.) in communication with the control board  50 . A first button  58  may be operated to set the power output of the blower unit  20 . For example, the first button  58  may change the blower unit  20  between a low speed, a medium speed, or a high speed. Further, one of the buttons (e.g., the first button  58 ) may be operated to turn the air purifier  10  on or off. The control board  50  may further include a second button  62  for operating a timer to determine a duration for the blower unit  20  to operate. The control board  50  may be operable to receive signals from the remote control  54  to control the air purifier  10  remotely. As such, the remote control  54  may also include a plurality of user input features  66  to control the operation of the air purifier  10 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , in some embodiments the control system  22  further includes a controller  130 , a user input feature  132 , and a sensor  133 . The sensor  133  is operable to send a signal to the controller  130  based on an operating parameter of the air purifier  10 . For example, the sensor  133  may be able to sense power provided by the power receptacle  18 , or an air quality surrounding the air purifier  10 . The blower unit  20 , the power receptacle  18 , the sensor  133 , and the user input feature  132  provide feedback to the controller  130  based on operation of the air purifier  10 . The controller  130  can then send a signal indicative of the feedback via a wireless communication device  134  to an external device  138  (e.g. a smart phone) to control operation of the air purifier  10 . 
     For example, the external device  138  may include a user input feature  142  that is operable to send a signal via a wireless communication device  146  to the wireless communication device  134 . The signal is processed by the controller  130  to control the power receptacle  18 , the blower unit  20 , or other features of the air purifier  10 . The controller  130  may also be capable of controlling the toggle switch  74  to alternate the type of power received by the blower unit  20 . In some embodiments, the controller  130  may default the power receptacle  18  to provide DC power to the blower unit  20  unless a DC power source is not detected. Then, if a DC power source is not detected, the controller  130  may switch the blower unit  20  to receive AC power. 
     As another example, the controller  130  may be operable to receive a signal from the sensor  133  that an indicator of air quality is below a predetermined threshold. The controller  130  can then automatically turn on the blower unit  20  to purify the air surrounding the air purifier  10  until the air quality is above the predetermined threshold. Alternatively, the controller  130  may run the blower unit  20  for a predetermined amount of time if the air quality is below the predetermined threshold. In some embodiments, the controller  130  may be operable to send a signal via the wireless communication device  134  to the external device  138  indicating that the filter  38  or the battery pack  44  needs to be changed. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an air purifier  210  according to another embodiment. The air purifier  210  is similar to the air purifier  10 , and similar features are identified with similar reference numerals. The air purifier  210  includes a stand  214  that is coupled to the housing  14  to support the air purifier  210  above a surface. The stand  214  includes two folding legs  218  that are movable between a tucked or collapsed position, in which the folding legs  218  are adjacent the housing  14  to facilitate transporting the air purifier  10 , and a standing position, in which the folding legs  218  are extended to support the air purifier  210  above a surface. In some embodiments, the housing  14  may include a lock, a clip, or a latch to secure the folding legs  218  in the tucked away position. 
     The air purifier  210  also includes at least one ceiling mount  222  and at least one wall mount  226  to support the air purifier  210  on a ceiling, wall, or other structure. The ceiling mounts  222  may be hooks or brackets that attach to other hooks or brackets supported by a ceiling to support the air purifier  210  on the ceiling. The ceiling mounts  222  are supported on a top side of the housing  14 . Similarly, the wall mounts  226  may be hooks or brackets that attach to other hooks or brackets supported by a wall to support the air purifier  210  on the wall. Alternatively, the wall mounts  226  may be recesses or cleats that allow the air purifier  10  to be supported by storage rails. The wall mounts  226  are supported on a lateral side of the housing  14 . Both the ceiling mounts  222  and the wall mounts  226  facilitate easy coupling to a wall, ceiling, or other structure so that a user may easily remove and transport the air purifier  10  away from the wall, the ceiling, or other structure. In the illustrated embodiment, the air purifier  210  includes four ceiling mounts  222  and four wall mounts  226 . In some embodiments, the air purifier  210  may include more than or less than four wall mounts  226  and ceiling mounts  222 . 
     In some embodiments, the handle  26  may be used to attach the air purifier  210  to a wall or ceiling. For example, a rope may be strung to the handle  26  to hang the air purifier  210  from a structure. In some embodiments, the air purifier  210  may include a strap or harness to allow a user to easily transport the air purifier  210 . The strap would allow a user to operate the air purifier  210  as a personal filtration system at any location. In some embodiments, the air purifier  210  may include fold out flanges coupled to the housing  14  that are extendable to fit within an opening. For example, a user may position the air purifier  210  within a window frame and extend the flanges to secure the air purifier  210  with respect to the window frame. 
     In other embodiments, the air purifier  210  may be attachable to a power tool or other device. For example, the air purifier  210  may be attached to a vacuum to filter particulate that is expelled into the air from the vacuum. 
     Although aspects have been described in detail with reference to certain embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the scope of one or more independent aspects as described. Various features and advantages are set forth in the following claims.