Patent US4376642A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4376642A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Portable air cleaner unit
Assignee: BIOTECH ELECTRONIQUE LTEE/BIOTECHELECTRONICS Ltd
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Filing: 1981-03-09
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Granted: 1983-03-15
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Expires: 2001-03-09
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to a portable air cleaner unit which includes a casing having an air inlet and an outlet and defining an air cleaning path between the inlet and outlet. A prefilter is disposed downstream of the air inlet and a main filter is disposed downstream of the prefilter. An air mover such as a fan is disposed downstream of the main filter, and an exposed negative ion source is disposed downstream of the fan on the external surface of the air outlet. In accordance with the invention, the main filter consists of fibers shredded from a non-carcinogenic plastic membrane which has been permanently electrostatically charged. The negative ion source ionizes the cleaned air as it leaves the cabinet.
Inventors
- 👤 Nigel C. Verity
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 20:50
CPC Classifications
B; B03; B03C; B03C3/00; B03C3/019; B03C3/28; B03C3/34; B03C3/72
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
An air cleaner unit comprising: a casing having an air inlet and an air outlet and defining an air cleaning path between said air inlet and said air outlet; filter means disposed across said path between said air inlet and said air outlet and comprising fibers shredded or fibrillated from a non-carcinogenic plastic membrane which has been permanently electrostatically charged; air moving means disposed along said path for moving the air from said air inlet to said air outlet; an exposed negative ion source disposed on the external surface of said air outlet; and a power supply connected to the negative ion source, the power supply having means for limiting the current of said power supply to protect users from receiving hazardous electrical shocks from said exposed negative ion source.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
130 words
An air cleaner unit comprising: a casing having an air inlet and an air outlet and defining an air cleaning path between said air inlet and said air outlet; filter means disposed across said path between said air inlet and said air outlet and comprising fibers shredded or fibrillated from a non-carcinogenic plastic membrane which has been permanently electrostatically charged; air moving means disposed along said path for moving the air from said air inlet to said air outlet; an exposed negative ion source disposed on the external surface of said air outlet; and a power supply connected to the negative ion source, the power supply having means for limiting the current of said power supply to protect users from receiving hazardous electrical shocks from said exposed negative ion source.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A unit as defined in claim 1 wherein said air moving means comprises fan means for drawing in air evenly across said air inlet and for distributing said air evenly outwardly across said air outlet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
A unit as defined in claim 2 wherein said fan means comprises a cylinder with a plurality of paddles extending outwardly from the surface thereof, said paddles being spaced along the periphery of the cylinder, and each paddle extending along the length of the cylinder.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A unit as defined in claim 3 wherein the axis of said cylinder is parallel to the plane of the air outlet, each of said paddles extending parallel with said axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
84 words
A unit as defined in claim 1 further comprising: an inlet duct disposed in said casing and facing said air inlet; said filter means comprising a main filter and a carrier positioned in said inlet duct for supporting the main filter; and prefilter means disposed across said path between said air inlet and said first-mentioned filter means for removing particles in excess of approximately ten microns in diameter from the air entering said air inlet, said prefilter means resting on said first-mentioned filter means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A unit as defined in claim 5 wherein said carrier is corrugated in shape and consists of slotted sheet steel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
A unit as defined in claim 5 wherein said prefilter means comprises a porous polyurethane material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
140 words
An air cleaner unit comprising: a casing having an air inlet and an air outlet and defining an air flow path between said air inlet and said air outlet; a grill covering the air outlet; air moving means disposed along said path for providing an air flow from said air inlet to said air outlet; filter means disposed across said path between said air inlet and said air outlet, said filter means comprising a plurality of electrically charged fibers for efficiently cleaning the air flowing from the air inlet to the air outlet; and a negative ion source located at said grill for producing ions of the cleaned air, said ion source being exposed at the air outlet for providing substantial emission of said ions into the air external to the grill without impediment from charge build-up on the grill.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
140 words
An air cleaner unit comprising: a casing having an air inlet and an air outlet and defining an air flow path between said air inlet and said air outlet; a grill covering the air outlet; air moving means disposed along said path for providing an air flow from said air inlet to said air outlet; filter means disposed across said path between said air inlet and said air outlet, said filter means comprising a plurality of electrically charged fibers for efficiently cleaning the air flowing from the air inlet to the air outlet; and a negative ion source located at said grill for producing ions of the cleaned air, said ion source being exposed at the air outlet for providing substantial emission of said ions into the air external to the grill without impediment from charge build-up on the grill.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The unit of claim 8, wherein said filter means comprises fibers shredded or fibrillated from a permanently charged foil.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The unit of claim 9, wherein said permanently charged foil comprises a non-carcinogenic plastic membrane which has been permanently electrostatically charged.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The unit of claim 8, wherein said filter means comprises a filter and a carrier for said filter, said carrier having a corrugated shape and comprising a slotted sheet.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The unit of claim 11, wherein said filter comprises a blanket of fibers supported in the corrugations of said carrier.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
The unit of claim 8 further comprising another filter means disposed across said path between said air inlet and the first-mentioned filter means for removing particles in excess of a predetermined size from the air entering said air inlet.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The unit of claim 13, wherein said other filter means comprises a porous polyurethane material.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-03-14 | 1986-09-13 | 1987-03-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-03-14 | 1990-09-13 | 1991-03-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-03-14 | 1994-09-13 | 1995-03-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |