US3757495A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Portable air purifier
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-12-30
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Granted: 1973-09-11
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Expires: 1991-12-30
Abstract
Abstract A unit, either stationary or portable, that recycles the air within a room or other interior area to concurrently subject the air to filtering treatment to remove entrained solid particles, gases, oxidants associated with smog and other vapors, as well as to the action of germicidal ultra violet light in order to destroy contagious and infectious, airborne micro-organisms such as bacteria, staphylococcus, hepititus, virus and other harmful, viable organisms that may be present in the air. Solid particulate matter that is removed from the air by the unit includes dust, pollens, fungi, molds, lint and the like. Reactive gases and vapors that are removed from the air as it flows through the unit include the oxidants associated with smog, unburned hydrocarbons, ozone, tobacco odors, smoke and other materials in vapor form that are harmful to human health, including traces of mercury in vapor form existing in the air. The unit is particularly adapted for use in any interior area wherein contaminated air effects health, whether human or animal, such as in doctors'' and dentists'' offices, examining and waiting rooms, hospital areas, including operating rooms, contagious wards, patient burn rooms, nurseries, food preparation quarters, morgues, or any other of the many areas in which disease may be spread by airborne means. The same holds true as to animal hospitals, veterinarians'' waiting rooms, operating rooms and the like.
Inventors
- 👤 W Sievers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 10:33
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D46/00; F; F24; F24F; F24F8/00; F24F8/20; F24F8/22; F24F8/80; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A50/00; Y02A50/20; Y02A50/2351
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
465 words
An air purifying and sterilizing device for use in recycling the air in a room or other confined space to sequentially remove entrained solid particles of greater than 10 microns therefrom, together with vapors and gases that are harmful to the human system, and to destroy micro-organisms in said air that are less than 10 microns in size, said device including: a. a cabinet having an air outlet and at least one air intake therein; b. first and second filters, said first filter capable of removing solid particles of greater than 10 microns in size as air containing said particles passes therethrough, and said second filter capable of removing reactive gases and vapors including those that may be toxic from air flowing therethrough, with both said first and second filters sufficiently porous as to permit micro-organisms of less than 10 microns in size that are entrained with air to pass therethrough; c. at least one electric motor-driven blower in said cabinet, said blower having an air discharge and an air inlet; d. first means for supporting said first and second filters inside said cabinet in coaxially aligned sealing engagement with one another, with one of said filters disposed to receive air from said air intake and the other of said filters disposed to deliver air passing therethrough to said air inlet; e. at least one first and second passageway-defining assembly in said cabinet in communication with said air discharge through which air after passing through said first and second filter flows at a velocity of between 700 to 1100 feet per second in opposite directions, with each of said first and second passageways being at least 3 feet in length, and each of said passageways having a transverse cross section of between 9 and 16 square inches, with air after traversing said first and second passageways discharging into the interior of said cabinet to subsequently be returned to said room by discharging through said air outlet; f. a first set of first and second electrically operated ultra violet light generating tubes substantially centrally disposed in said first and second passageways and extending the longitudinal length thereof; g. light-reflecting means covering the interior surfaces of said first and second passageways for reflecting light from said tubes at random patterns to obtain maximum exposure of said micro-organisms to said ultra violet light as air containing said micro-organisms flows through said first and second passageways; and h. electric circuit means for concurrently operating said motor driven blower and said first set of first and second tubes to draw a stream of air through said first and second filters and discharge the same through said first and second passagewaydefining assembly to purify and sterilize said air prior to said air being returned to said room through said air outlet.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
465 words
An air purifying and sterilizing device for use in recycling the air in a room or other confined space to sequentially remove entrained solid particles of greater than 10 microns therefrom, together with vapors and gases that are harmful to the human system, and to destroy micro-organisms in said air that are less than 10 microns in size, said device including: a. a cabinet having an air outlet and at least one air intake therein; b. first and second filters, said first filter capable of removing solid particles of greater than 10 microns in size as air containing said particles passes therethrough, and said second filter capable of removing reactive gases and vapors including those that may be toxic from air flowing therethrough, with both said first and second filters sufficiently porous as to permit micro-organisms of less than 10 microns in size that are entrained with air to pass therethrough; c. at least one electric motor-driven blower in said cabinet, said blower having an air discharge and an air inlet; d. first means for supporting said first and second filters inside said cabinet in coaxially aligned sealing engagement with one another, with one of said filters disposed to receive air from said air intake and the other of said filters disposed to deliver air passing therethrough to said air inlet; e. at least one first and second passageway-defining assembly in said cabinet in communication with said air discharge through which air after passing through said first and second filter flows at a velocity of between 700 to 1100 feet per second in opposite directions, with each of said first and second passageways being at least 3 feet in length, and each of said passageways having a transverse cross section of between 9 and 16 square inches, with air after traversing said first and second passageways discharging into the interior of said cabinet to subsequently be returned to said room by discharging through said air outlet; f. a first set of first and second electrically operated ultra violet light generating tubes substantially centrally disposed in said first and second passageways and extending the longitudinal length thereof; g. light-reflecting means covering the interior surfaces of said first and second passageways for reflecting light from said tubes at random patterns to obtain maximum exposure of said micro-organisms to said ultra violet light as air containing said micro-organisms flows through said first and second passageways; and h. electric circuit means for concurrently operating said motor driven blower and said first set of first and second tubes to draw a stream of air through said first and second filters and discharge the same through said first and second passagewaydefining assembly to purify and sterilize said air prior to said air being returned to said room through said air outlet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
An air sterilizing and purifying device as defined in claim 1 that includes two motor driven blowers and two first and second passageway defining assemblies in said cabinet, and said electric circuit means supplying power to both of said blowers and to said ultraviolet light lamps in both of said assemblies.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
An air purifying and sterilizing device as defined in claim 1 in which said cabinet is elongate in shape in a vertical direction with said air outlet in the upper portion thereof, and said air intakes in the lower part thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
66 words
An air purifier and sterilizing device as defined in claim 1 in which openings are formed in said cabinet in vertical alignment with said lamps, and said device in addition including: i. transparent filters in said openings that remove light of harmful frequency from light radiated by said ultra violet lamps, and visually permit a determination to be made as to whether said lamps are operating.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
An air sterilizing and purifying device as defined in claim 1 in which said first filter is formed from a light colored porous material for ease in visually inspecting the same to determine whether said filter should be replaced.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
An air sterilizing and purifying device as defined in claim 1 in which said second filter contains a material that has a high affinity to adsorb metals present in the air in either a highly divided state or in the form of vapor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
139 words
An air purifying and sterilizing device as defined in claim 1 in which said first and second passageway defining means includes a dimensionally stable structure defined by a pair of vertically extending side walls and end walls that on their top are closed by a cover and on the bottom are secured to a horizontal plate having an opening therein, a partition that divides the interior of said structure into first and second elongate passageways that are in communication with one another at the top thereof, said first passageway in communication with said opening in said plate to receive a stream of air from said blower, and said air stream after traversing said first and second passageways discharging into said cabinet as purified and sterilized air through an opening in the lower portion of one of said side walls.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
An air purifying and sterilizing device as defined in claim 7 in which said blower is secured to said plate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
An air sterilizing and purifying device as defined in claim 7 in which said first means are a pair of horizontal supports secured to said end pieces on which said plate rests.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-10 | 1977-03-12 | 1977-09-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-10 | 1981-03-12 | 1981-09-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-10 | 1985-03-12 | 1985-09-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |