Abstract:
The present invention is a portable air purifier device intended to be attached to the belt or to the neck of the user and generate purified air enough to breath easily and adequate to make an air curtain to push a way ambient air. Principle of the operation of this device is to push inlet polluted air through layers of ionized water. Water will absorb particles and copper and silver ion kills possible air born bacteria and produce clean air. The purified air will be then delivered to the face of the user either by a flexible hose to a mask or through several flexible hoses to form an air curtain in front of a user&#39;s face.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates in general to the field of air purifiers, and in particular to a personalized forced air purifier system and mask. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    A wide variety of face masks have been developed to protect people from polluted particulate matter and dust. Most of the dust masks have been developed to protect people from larger particulate matters such as sand, wood dust, metal dust or the like. Many filtering masks are designed for removing particles as well as some gasses that may include bacteria or harmful viruses. Filtered masks in the market are not efficient and need high intake pressure, which makes using them difficult, especially for the elderly. These masks are not convenient and they usually cover most of the face. Additionally, they tend to be cumbersome and expensive to manufacture and purchase 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present invention is an air purifier in combination with a mask or an air curtain to provide clean breathing air. The air purifier comprises of a small container, which can be attached to a belt or hang from the neck of a user. The container is preferably made of a light weight material and includes a top lid, a bottom wall and side walls adapted to house a water absorbing material of any one of sponge, cotton etc, which can be removed to be cleaned. The filter is preferably from a material with strong absorbability and is wetted by water or ionized water. The wet filter has an inlet area and an outlet area. The inlet area of the wet filter is exposed to the ambient air. The container has a plurality of openings on the top lid and plurality of openings on the side walls. The container may have any shape and size. A battery driven air fan is attached to the outlet area of the wet filter to suck the ambient air through the wet filter and exhaust a purified air. In operation, the fan sucks the ambient air passing through the filter in the container and exhausts a clear flow of air. 
         [0004]    In another embodiment of the present invention the purifier has an ionization system embedded inside the container. Said container, contains of a water chamber. The ionization system comprises of two plate electrodes to ionize and disinfect the water inside the container. Said electrodes are from a heavy metal, such as a copper-silver alloy. Each electrode is being connected to the power source. Released ions in wet filter act as an electrochemical treatment to kill the bacteria released from the ambient air. 
         [0005]    By inhale, the contaminated air is driven into the container and pollution, dust and contaminants of the air are scrubbed by the filter and neutralized by the ionized water. The purified air is then released into the container-outlet-port. A flexible air hose is connected to the outlet-port to carry the purified air into the flexible air hose and guide it to the user&#39;s interface. 
         [0006]    Fastening means are provided on the side walls of the container to open the top lid of the container and replace the contaminated filter which contains dust and dead bacteria and replace it easily with a new filter. The personal air purifier can be attach to ones belt and secured by a belt buckle, or can be hang on the neck. 
         [0007]    The output of the container is connected to a mask with an open outlet through a flexible air hose. Said mask is designed to be mounted on the users chin by chin-attaching means. Said mask is being held onto the users head by standard elastic straps. The flexible air hose contains of plurality of air jets extended to the top surface of the mask. Flexible wearable pipes under the shirt of the user guide the purified air and generate a curtain of purified air in front of the nose and mouth of the user. 
         [0008]    The air purifier of the present invention can also be used with a full face cover mask having an opening in front of it to direct the exhale air out of the mask. 
         [0009]    The container further comprises of a power source to provide power to the fan. 
         [0010]    Said power source is a DC battery or other suitable batteries that can be used as a power source. 
         [0011]    The present invention can be used in hospitals to make the patients safer and reduce pandemic air born disease to spread easily. It can be used in dusty areas to filter the air, which is essential especially for people with allergy or asthma. 
         [0012]    The present invention can also equipped with a container for medical solutions to treat a variety of diseases. Inhalation solutions are typically aqueous-based formulations and contain therapeutically active ingredients and can used by the present invention. 
         [0013]    The present invention can also equipped with a container for applying good smells for the user in public places. 
         [0014]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an air purifying mask which is light, non-expensive, easy to use and safe. 
         [0015]    It is another object of the present invention to provide such a device which is highly portable and which would be lightweight and inexpensive to construct. 
         [0016]    Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated from the following description. The description makes reference to the accompanying drawings, which are provided for illustration of the preferred embodiment. However, such embodiments do not represent the full scope of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    Embodiments herein will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings provided to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the claims, wherein like designations denote like elements, and in which: 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  is a front view of the personalized forced air purifier according to the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a side view of personalized forced air purifier of the present invention and the filter; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the personalized forced air purifier in open position according to the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a top view of another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a top view of another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a chin-attaching mask according to the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of another type of mask portion of the present invention; and 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the personalized forced air purifier of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0026]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , it can be seen that the personalized forced air purifier is a portable wet filter  10  comprises a container  11  preferably made of a light weight material. Said container  11  includes a top lid  12  and a bottom wall  14  and side walls  13 . Said container is adapted to house a filter. The top lid  12  has perforations  21  to allow the ambient air  40  to enter into the container for purifying. The lid  12  is fastened on top of the container  11  by a fastening means. There are also openings  21  provided on the side walls  13  of the container  11 . The container  11  is adapted to house a sponge like filter. The filter  20  is sponge like material with strong absorbability and is wetted by water or ionized water. The filter  20  can be replaced after contaminated with a clean filter. 
         [0027]    A battery driven air fan  30  is attached to the bottom wall  14  of the container  11 . The air fan  30  sucks the ambient air  40  through the filter and exhausts a purified air  90  and directs it through an outlet-port to the flexible hose  34 . The flexible hose  34  is connected to the outlet-port from one end and to a mask from another end. 
         [0028]    A power source  100  is provided on the side wall  13  of the container to provide power to the fan  30 . Said power source is a DC battery or other suitable batteries. Li-Ion battery driven fans are readily available which can provide sufficient air flow. 
         [0029]    The air purifier  10  is equipped with a control panel  36  to manage the speed of the air fan  30  and the operation of the power source  100 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 3  is a top elevation of the inner part of the personalized forced air purifier  10 . The air fan  30  is mounted on the bottom wall  14  of the container and sucks the contaminated air through the openings  21  into the container  11 . The filter  20  is inserted into the container and stands in a higher elevation from the fan  30 . The contaminated air passes through the filter  20  and the pollution, dust and contaminants of the air are scrubbed by the filter  20 . The purified air  90  is then diverted into the air hose  34 . 
         [0031]    According to  FIGS. 4 and 5  in another embodiment of the air purifier  10  the filtering system comprises a combination of wet filter  20  and ionization system. An ionization system is embedded inside the container  11 . The ionization system comprises of a series of electrodes to produce ions and disinfect the air inside the container  11 . A variety of electrode configurations can be used for purification.  FIG. 4  shows two curved plate electrodes  84 - 86 . The electrodes are from a heavy metal, such as a copper-silver alloy. Each electrode  84 - 86  is being connected to the power source  100 . Released ions act as an electrochemical treatment to kill the bacteria released from the ambient air  40 . The electrodes  84 - 86  can be in various configurations and the wet filter  20  is then embedded in between the electrodes. 
         [0032]    The fan  30  sucks a significant amount of ambient air into the container  11  and pollution, dust and contaminants of the air are scrubbed by the filter  20  and neutralized by the ions. The purified air  90  is then released into the flexible hose  34  through a container-outlet-port. The purified air is then carried towards the user&#39;s face. 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4  a flexible air hose  34  is connected to the outlet port  32  of the container. The air hose  34  receives the purified air  90  and directs it to the user&#39;s face. The flexible hose  34  is connected to the outlet-port  32  from one end and to a mask or another air distribution system from another end. 
         [0034]    The personalized forced air purifier  10  of the present invention is equipped with means to generate a flow of purified air in front of user&#39;s face. As shown in  FIG. 6  said means can be a set of air jets  51  provided on a chin attaching air curtain  50 . Said air curtain  50  can be attached on the chin of a user  200 . Plurality of air nozzles  51  are provided on the proximal end of the flexible hose  34  and extended to the front portion of the air curtain  50 . The air jets on the air curtain generate a curtain of purified air  90  in front of the nose and mouth of the user. Said air curtain  50  is attached to the user&#39;s chin using an elastic strap  53  or any other strapping means. 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , air generating means can be a face mask  60  having an opening  61  in front of it. This enables the user  200  to inhale and exhale the forced purified air through the mask  60 . Because the purified air is forced through the mask and there is a continuous flow of purified air in and out of the mask, the unpurified air cannot enter the mask. The purified air  90  is directed into the mask  60  through the flexible hose  34  and the exhaled air is carried out of the mask through the opening  61 . 
         [0036]    The personal air purifier  10  is made of a light weight material to be attached to a belt or hang from a neck of a user. According to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the flexible hose  34  and Interface means  50 - 60  may comprise of rigid or resilient material or clear plastic material. Adjustable straps  53  can be used to attach the mask to the persons chin or head to allow the nose and mouth breathe the purified air  90 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 8  shows another embodiment of the present invention. The personal air purifier  300  comprises a container  11  having a top wall  12 , a bottom wall  14 , a front wall  15  and a rear wall  16  and side walls  13 . Said container is divided to two sections by a filter  83  and adapted to house a volume of ionized water  80 . An ionization system is embedded inside the water section  80  of the container  11 . It is well known that ions of heavy metals such as copper and silver are biocidals for many bacteria. The ionization system comprises of two plate electrodes  84 - 86  attached to the inner walls of said compartment to ionize and disinfect the water inside the container  11 . The first electrode  84  is attached to the front wall  15  of the container and the second electrode  86  is attached to the rear wall  16  of the container. The electrodes  84 - 86  deposit specific amount of ions into the water  80 . Each electrode  84 - 86  is connected to the power source  100 . Released ions in the water act as an electrochemical treatment to kill the bacteria released from the ambient air  40  into the water. 
         [0038]    A battery driven air fan  30  is attached to the top wall  12  of the container. The air fan  30  sucks the ambient air  40  through openings into the container  11 . The ambient air directs into the container through an air conduit  42 . The air conduit  42  extends to the top of the water surface  88 . A variety of air nozzles  44  can be attached to the exit of the air conduit  42  to change the air velocity impinging on the water surface  88 . 
         [0039]    Referring again to  FIG. 8  again a filter  83  divides the container  11  into two compartments. The first compartment  81  is on one side of the filter  83 , on the side of the air conduit  42 , where the contaminated air  40  is injected. The second compartment  82  is on the other side of the filter  83 , in which the air is purified. The pollution, dust and contaminants of the air are scrubbed by the water and neutralized by the ionized water. The purified air  90  entering into the clean compartment  82  is guided towards the users face. 
         [0040]    The air fan  30  is strong enough to generate 10-15 lit/min output flow of breathing air. When this high flow air impinges on the water at the bottom of the container, it generates a significant amount of mixing and turbulence. The splashing water droplets scrub the contaminants, dust and other pollutants from the air. Any other particle that is not absorbed by the water is filtered through the filter  83 . The fan  30  is battery operated to make it portable. Any type of battery driven fan can be used. Li-Ion battery driven fans are readily available which can provide sufficient air flow. 
         [0041]    A power source  100  is provided on top wall  12  to provide power to the fan and the ionization system. Said power source is a DC battery or other suitable batteries. 
         [0042]    The purified air  90  is then released in the second compartment  82 . An outlet-port  32  is provided on top wall  12  of the second compartment  82 . The flexible hose is then connected to the outlet-port  32  to carry the purified air  90  into the flexible hose and guide it to the user&#39;s interface. 
         [0043]    As shown in  FIG. 8  again an aperture  18  is provided on the top wall  12  to fill the container  11 . In operation, one need only pour a measured amount of water through the aperture  18 . All of the openings are positioned so as to prevent any liquid water from leaking out of the container  11 . Purified air  90  is provided towards the users&#39; face through hose, allowing for the user to breathe clean air. Ionized water which contains dust and dead bacteria will be replaced/refilled easily through the same aperture  18 . 
         [0044]    The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 
         [0045]    With respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum relationships for the parts of the invention in regard to size, shape, form, materials, function and manner of operation, assembly and use are deemed readily apparent and obvious to those skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.