Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates to a device and system for ventilating an area and removing undesirable and unhealthy bacteria and other particles from the air and in particular this invention relates to an air ventilation device and system in which the direction of the flow of air through the device or system can be adjusted. More particularly, this invention relates to an air ventilation device and system for use with animal containers to reduce the order particles that accumulate in the vicinity of the animal container as the result of an animal residing in the container.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     An air purifier is a device which aims to free air from contaminants. The popularity of air purifiers spur from the results from environment researches which claim that the air inside homes are dirtier than the air outside of homes. Air purifiers are particularly beneficial for allergy sufferers and asthmatics or those who wish to reduce second-hand smoke. Allergy-inducing culprits are known as allegens. Allergens can come in the form of dust or pollen as well as pet dander and mold spores. Hazardous smoke particles and airborne gases may also find their way into homes and bedrooms. Because of the significant amount of time most people spend indoors, many wish to ensure air purity.  
         [0003]     Various techniques are used in air purifiers in the current market to accomplish indoor air purification. These techniques include mechanical filters, absorbents such as charcoal, and electrostatic charges or ionizers. The most popular sort of filters for air purifiers is the HEPA filter. The Department of Energy has rigid requirements manufacturers must pass to meet HEPA requirements. Additional setups include germicidal UV light and the emission of ions into the air to react with contaminants and making them harmless enough to breathe. Although air purifiers strive to make the air as clean as possible, no commercial air purifier is capable of producing a room as clean as needed in situations requiring an especially clean environment, such as hospital surgical rooms or sensitive manufacturing like optics or computer processors.  
         [0004]     In addition to the general contaminants that are in the air, owners of pets also live with the contaminants that come from the animals. Millions of households keep domesticated pets indoors. Allowing the animal to remain indoors reduces exposure to infectious diseases, territorial disputes with other neighborhood animals, and exposure to the harsher elements of weather, such as rain, snow, the cold of winter and the heat of summer. Although many pet owners keep their pets indoors, a shortcoming of current pet enclosures is that they absorb and emit pet odors that can foul the smell of the entire house or apartment surroundings. For example, the inclusion of many materials such as wood and/or other natural materials, and/or natural or synthetic fabric into an enclosure can trap urine and other sources of unpleasant odors associated with animals. Attempts to reduce the absorption of odors have generally focused on fabricating the structure entirely of metal or other non-porous materials. These odors contribute to the contamination that is generally in the air as previously described.  
         [0005]     One attempt to reduce pet odor is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,997,138. This patent describes a pet enclosure having a moisture and odor-resistant, plastic, rattan-like material woven onto a frame. Although this odor-resistant plastic does reduce some of the odor coming from the animals, a substantial amount of pet odor remains in the air.  
         [0006]     There remains a need for an improved and flexible air ventilation system that can be adapted to remove contaminants and animal odors from the air.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     It is an objective of the present invention to provide an air ventilation device and system in which the flow of air through the device or system can be adjusted.  
         [0008]     It is a second objective of the present invention to provide a rotatable cleaning element contained in the air-ventilating device.  
         [0009]     It is a third objective of the present invention to provide an air-ventilating system in which air is drawn directly from an animal container thereby reducing the amount of animal odor accumulating in the animal container.  
         [0010]     It is a fourth objective of the present invention to provide air ventilating device that can be housed in a variety of containers to facilitate the application of the device in different configurations.  
         [0011]     It is a fifth objective of the present invention to provide an air cleaning system that can be incorporated into various cabinet type structures.  
         [0012]     The present invention is an air-ventilating device and system. This system comprises an air-ventilating and cleaning element positioned within a housing. The housing contains multiple vents in the housing walls. The vents serve as channels that enable air to flow into and out of the air-ventilating device. The air-ventilating device and cleaning element can vary and can range from a simple air ventilator to and an air purifier. The cleaning element can contain a filter element to further facilitate cleaning of the air. The cleaning element can be positioned in the housing on a track or pin to allow for movement of the cleaning element within the housing. Movement of the cleaning element may be desired in order to more efficiently clean air channeled through the device. Because of the ability to move the cleaning element, airflow through the device can be adjusted depending on a particular cleaning application. The cleaning element can also be mounted to a wall of the housing.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a conventional air-cleaning device.  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a side view of a conventional air-cleaning device.  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is a view of the components of a conventional air cleaning device and the general direction of airflow through that device.  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is a front, top and side view of an animal container which the air cleaning device of the present invention can be used to remove animal odor.  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  is a side view of a stair-step configuration of the air ventilation device of the present invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  is a side view of an alternate embodiment stair-step configuration of the air ventilation device of the present invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 7  is a view of the air through the air ventilation device configuration of  FIG. 5 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 8  is a view of the air through the air ventilation device configuration of  FIG. 6 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 9   a  is a side view of an alternate stair-step configuration of the air ventilation device of the present invention.  
         [0022]      FIG. 9   b  is a cross-section view of the backside of the alternate stair-step configuration of the air ventilation device shown in  FIG. 9   a.    
         [0023]      FIG. 10   a  is a front view of a plug element positioned within the air-ventilating device.  
         [0024]      FIG. 10   b  is a front view of a plug element positioned within the air-ventilating device.  
         [0025]      FIG. 11   a  is a top view of the air-ventilating device and configuration shown in  FIG. 9   a.    
         [0026]      FIG. 11   b  is a top view of the air-ventilating device and configuration shown in  FIG. 9   a  oriented to draw through one-side of the housing.  
         [0027]      FIG. 11   c  is a top view of the air-ventilating device and configuration shown in  FIG. 9   a  oriented to draw through the side opposite the side shown in  FIG. 11   b  of the housing.  
         [0028]      FIG. 12  is an alternate embodiment of the air-ventilating device shown in  FIG. 9   a  with the air-cleaning element attached to a track for linear and circular movement of the cleaning element.  
         [0029]      FIGS. 13   a  and  13   b  show a top view of various embodiments of the track for moving the cleaning element.  
         [0030]      FIG. 14  is a side view of the air-cleaning element attached to a pivot pin/ball for movement of the air-cleaning element.  
         [0031]      FIG. 15  shows a side view of the air-cleaning element attached to the track.  
         [0032]      FIGS. 16, 17  and  18  are top views the air-ventilating device and configuration with the cleaning element attached to the track and orientated at different positions within the housing.  
         [0033]      FIG. 19  is a view of an air ventilation system of the present invention incorporating a stair-step air ventilating device and a vented animal house container.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0034]      FIGS. 1, 2  and  3  illustrate a typical configuration of an air ventilating and purifying system. As shown, the device  10  contains a cleaning element  12  within the device. This cleaning element varies and will depend on the type of purifying technique that is used in the device. As previously mentioned, these purifying techniques include mechanical filters, absorbents such as charcoal, and electrostatic charges or ionizers. Referring to  FIG. 2 , vents  14  and  16  provide a channel to allow air to flow into and through the air-cleaning device. Dials  18  and  19  can control the amount of the through the cleaning device.  
         [0035]      FIG. 3  shows the flow of the air through the system. As shown, air can enter into the air cleaner through vent  14 . At this point, the air is drawn into the cleaning element. Regardless of the cleaning technique employed, contaminants in the air are removed in the cleaning element. Once cleaned, the air flows out of the cleaning device through vent  16 .  
         [0036]      FIG. 4  shows a general design of the multiple function animal piece that can be used as part of the air ventilation system of the present invention. This configuration is further described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/344,655 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/121,797 to the same inventor. As shown, this piece has a top  20 , open front side  22 , a backside  24  (not shown in  FIG. 4 ), multiple side walls  26  and  28 . The number of side will vary with the particular design shape. This furniture piece can also contain a floor. The front side  22  has an opening  32 , which covers a large portion of the front side. This large opening allows for animals to easily enter the furniture piece. The opening also allows for easy insertion of toys and food and water trays into the furniture piece. In addition, small vent openings  34  and  36  can be included the side walls. These opening improve ventilation in the furniture piece. The front side also has a lip  38  that extends up from the base.  
         [0037]      FIG. 5  shows a side view of a configuration of an air-cleaning device of the present invention. In this configuration, the air cleaner housing is a stair-step device. In this configuration, one air vent  50  is positioned in the back wall  52  of the housing. A side vent  54  is positioned in the side wall  56  of the housing. A second side vent, not shown, is also positioned in the side wall opposite side wall  56 . These two side vents are symmetrical. Air flows through the air vent  50  and into the air-cleaning device. The air then flows through the cleaning element  58 . The air cleaning element can be one such as those manufactured by Natural Air (model number Natural Air 50) the cleaned air then flows from the cleaning element and out of the air-cleaner through vents  54  in the side wall. This housing is suited to be positioned adjacent an animal container such as the one described in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0038]      FIG. 6  shows a side view of an alternate stair-step configuration of an air-cleaning device. In this configuration, vent  50  is still in the back wall  52 . However, the second vent  60  is at the front  64  of the stair-step housing. In this embodiment, the air flows from the cleaning element  58  and out of the air cleaning device through vent  60 .  
         [0039]      FIG. 7  shows the air flow pattern of the configuration illustrated in  FIG. 5 . As previously described, flows through vent  50  and the cleaning element  58 . Air then flows out the cleaning device through vents  46  in the side walls. This configuration can also have a wall  62  to helps facilitate the flow of air through the side vents.  
         [0040]      FIG. 8  shows the flow air through the configuration illustrated in  FIG. 6 . Air is drawn into the cleaning device through vent  50 . The air then travels through the air cleaning element  58  and out of the air cleaning device through vent  60 .  
         [0041]      FIG. 9   a  shows an alternate embodiment of the air ventilating system of the present invention. This embodiment is another stair-step design. Shown are two steps  90  and  91  with a front side  92  and a back side  93 . An opening  95  in the upper section of the back side provides an inlet through which air will flow into the device. The cleaning element  94  is attached to the back side  92  and is positioned such that it can draw air through the opening  95  into the housing. Openings  96  are on each side of the housing.  FIG. 9   b  shows a cross-section view of the back side of the housing. Shown are the opening  95  and side openings  96 .  
         [0042]      FIG. 10   a  shows a plug element. This plug element  98  can be positioned on the inside of the back wall  92  and positioned such that the wall opening  95  is aligned with opening  95   a  in the plug element. An electrical plug  97  provides a means to supply power to the air cleaning element  94 .  FIG. 10   b  shows a side cross-section view of the plug element attached to the air cleaning element. A gasket material  99  can be positioned between the plug element  98  and the air cleaning element  94  to form a seal between the air cleaning element and the plug element.  
         [0043]      FIGS. 11   a,    11   b  and  11   c  show different configurations of the air cleaning device. In these configurations  11   b  and  11   c,  a wall  100  is constructed to enable the flow of air between side openings as previously shown in  FIG. 8 . The wall  100  contains the plug element  98 . The air cleaning element can be positioned on either side of the wall depending on which direction is flow is desired. In  FIGS. 11   b  and  11   c,  the air will flow into the air cleaning unit through one opening, through the air cleaning element and out through the other side opening.  
         [0044]      FIG. 12  shows a side view of the air cleaning element on a track in the housing to facilitate linear and circular movement of the air cleaning element in the housing. This configuration provides for movement of the air cleaning element to direct air flow through the housing as desired.  
         [0045]      FIGS. 13   a  and  13   b  show different configurations of the track  102 . A complete floor  104  can be positioned in the housing to support the track. In the alternative,  FIG. 13   b  shows a partial floor  106  to support the track  102 .  FIGS. 14 and 15  show the air cleaning element attached to the housing. The pin  110  that engages the track allows for linear and circular movement of the air cleaning element within the housing.  
         [0046]     In another application, it may be desirable or necessary for the cleaning device to be positioned such that air flows in through the side of the device instead of the back as previously described. For this application, it may be necessary to change the orientation of the cleaning element such that it faces the side vent. The orientation of the cleaning element could be changed using a dial on the external surface of the housing. This dial would be connected to a control mechanism that is connected to the cleaning element. For example, to rotate the cleaning element in a clockwise direction, the user could turn the dial in a clockwise direction until the desired orientation of the cleaning element is obtained. For maximum efficiency, it is better to have the best alignment of the cleaning element with the vent through which air will be drawn into the cleaning device.  
         [0047]     The various orientations of the cleaning element can be in a circular direction or they can be combination of circular and linear directions. To facilitate this combination of linear and circular orientations, the cleaning element could have pins on the top and bottom. The top pin could be in mechanical communication with an external control dial. The bottom pin could be positioned in a linear track. The attachment of the pin with the track could be in a manner such the user could move the cleaning element in a linear direction and could also rotate the cleaning element while moving it in a vertical direction.  
         [0048]      FIGS. 16, 17  and  18  show various configurations of the air cleaning element on the track.  FIG. 16  shows a configuration in which the air cleaning is drawing air into the housing in the back side of the housing as illustrated in  FIG. 9   a.  In  FIG. 17 , the air cleaning element can be moved linearly and rotated circularly such that is draws air into through a side opening and out of the housing through the opposite side opening.  FIG. 18  is an orientation of the air cleaning element such that it draws air into the housing through the side opening that is opposite the side opening shown in  FIG. 17 . In each mentioned embodiment, the air travels through the air cleaning element before existing the housing.  
         [0049]      FIG. 19  shows an embodiment of the system of the present invention. This system comprises an air cleaning device in combination with an animal containing device. This animal containing device is similar to the one shown in  FIG. 4 . The animal container  70  is positioned adjacent the air-cleaning device  72 . The air-cleaning device is positioned such that it covers the vent in one side of the animal container. The positioning of the air-cleaning device should be such that the vent  36  of the animal container is aligned with the vent  50  of the air cleaning device. As shown, this configuration of the air-cleaning device has the vents in the side walls. The air inside the animal container space is contaminated with the smell of the animal. As mentioned, this smell filters into the entire room. With the present invention, the air  80  from the containing is drawn out of the container  70  through the side vent  36  and back vent  50  and into the air cleaning device  72 . When in the air cleaner, the cleaning element cleans the air. The air  80  then flows out of the cleaning device through the side vents.  
         [0050]     The system of the present invention can also comprise a configuration in which the structures as shown in  FIG. 19  are combined as one structure having multiple sections.  
         [0051]     The structures described in this invention can be constructed from any conventional building material such as metal, wood or plastic.  
         [0052]     As mentioned, the configurations for configuring the air cleaning device and system will vary. Described herein are only examples of various configurations and various air cleaning and purifying techniques. These air cleaning techniques are conventional techniques that are implemented in this invention. The invention described herein is not limited in scope to the example configurations described in this disclosure.  
         [0053]     The present invention provides significant advantages over the current art. The invention has been described in connection with its preferred embodiments. However, it is not limited thereto. Changes, variations and modifications to the basic design may be made without departing from the inventive concepts in this invention. In addition, these changes, variations and modifications would be obvious to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the foregoing teachings. All such changes, variations and modifications are intended to be within the scope of this invention.

Technology Category: 2