Patent Application
20220111322
The present invention relates generally to an air flow filtering device for a seating area in a passenger compartment. More specifically, the invention relates to an air filtering cover that can be placed over top of an airplane cabin seat vent. The air filtering cover is secured to the air vent such that all of the air being expelled through the vent passes through the body of the air filtering cover. The air filtering cover is preferably comprised of both a replaceable HEPA filter and a UV light disinfection filter. Further, the air exits the cover via a permeable element that comprises a fixed or removable cap on one end of the cover. The cap may include a plurality of patterns, designs, textures, or physical structures, such as flower petals, bristles or the like. Further, the cap may be scent-infused to permeate the cabin air with a scent after the vent air passes through the air filtering cover. Accordingly, the present disclosure makes specific reference thereto. However, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present invention are also equally amenable to other like applications, devices, and methods of manufacture.
In the age of a global pandemic, health experts warn individuals against gathering in enclosed spaces as they may be more easily exposed to the spread of germs, bacteria, pathogens and viruses, such as COVID-19 or any other virus that can be transmitted through the air. However, some enclosed spaces, such as on airplanes, buses, trains and the like, cannot be avoided by individuals who are required to travel for work or other purposes. Further, in an airplane, bus, train, etc., the passenger or cabin air is typically recycled throughout the cabin after passing through one or more cabin filters. Unfortunately, cabin filters do not always remove all of the bacteria, pathogens, viruses or germs that may be circulating in the cabin air and passenger space. Further, many individuals choose to utilize the air conditioning and heating vents that are disposed overhead in the passenger convenience portion of a seat. Air vent openings may be found in the overhead passenger convenience area, alongside walls such as in buses, trains or other vehicles, on a seat back or wherever a transportation vehicle manufacturer may position the vent. As such, passengers may come into direct contact with pathogens and other airborne contaminants in the recycled cabin air via the vent as it blows air into their personal area. No device currently exists that allows a user to easily apply a cover and filter devices over a passenger cabin air vent.
Therefore, there exists a long felt need in the art for a cabin seat air vent cover device that protects an individual from being directly exposed to airborne pathogens and other undesirable contaminants in a passenger cabin that may be expelled through the passenger's personal air vent. There is also a long felt need for an air vent cover device having redundancy filtering mechanisms to further reduce the possibility that an individual will be exposed to germs, bacteria, pathogens and viruses. Moreover, there is a long felt need in the art for an air vent cover device that is effective, yet relatively small and portable for easy transportation. Additionally, there is a long felt need in the art for an air vent cover device that not only filters the air, but that also infuses the filtered air with a pleasant scent. Finally, there exists a long felt need in the art for an air vent cover device that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and that is both safe and easy to use.
The present invention relates to a relatively small and generally cylindrical air filtering device that can be placed over an air vent in a passenger cabin. The air filtering device creates a seal around the exterior portion or body of the vent to ensure that all air passing through the vent enters into and travels through the various filters of the air filtering device. More specifically, the device is comprised of a replaceable HEPA filter and a UV light disinfection filter that both help to significantly reduce, and potentially eliminate, any germs, bacteria, pathogens and viruses that may be present within the air that passes through the device. Additionally, the top of the air filtering device is comprised of a cap having a permeable filtering element that, in differing embodiments of the device, may include elements such as artificial flowers, bristles, characters, geometric shapes, etc. The permeable filtering element may further be infused with a scent that is carried out of the device via the air passing therethrough, thereby eliminating odors from stale cabin air. Differing embodiments of the device may include a fixed or removable top cap wherein the device may also be provided as part of a kit that contains a plurality of caps having differing decorative elements, replacement filters, scent packages, instructions and the like.
In this manner, the passenger compartment air vent filter device of the present invention accomplishes all of the forgoing objectives and allows a user to better protect himself or herself from airborne pathogens, germs, viruses, microbes and other contaminants in a passenger cabin, such as an airplane cabin, that may otherwise be expelled through an air vent and directly onto the user. Further, the device is small and portable, and can easily be carried in a pocket of a user. Finally, the passenger compartment air vent filter device is comprised of a top that can include a decorative element which makes the device aesthetically pleasing, and allows the user to customize the appearance of the device to suit his or her needs or preferences.
The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises an improved passenger compartment air vent-cover filtering device. The filtering device is comprised of a shaped, flexible body portion that can be placed around, and secured to, the adjustment ring or opening of a passenger cabin air vent to form a seal therewith that ensures that all of the air being expelled through the vent will travel though the filtering device body. The filtering device body has an internal passageway which includes a plurality of continuous slots or openings that can house one or more air filters, such as a replaceable HEPA filter and a UV light filter. The slots or other openings are preferably arranged in a fashion directly above one another (e.g. stacked) such that the top surfaces of each of the filters are generally parallel to one another and have air passageways which are generally aligned with the internal air passageway of the filter body. In one embodiment of the filtering device, each of the filters may be secured within the body via a plurality of tabs upon which the filters rest. In another embodiment, the body may comprise one or more pull-out trays that, when in the open position, extend outwardly from the filter device body such that each filter can be placed within its individual tray and the tray pushed back into the body of the device. Each slot or opening is further covered via a hinged cover that is preferably made from the same material as the device body, and generally convex in shape in order to sit flush with the outer surface of the device body.
After being placed on and secured around the air vent on the transportation vehicle, the expelled air will pass through the internal passageway of the filtering device of the present invention and through each of the filters to purify the air and eliminate any bacteria, germs, contaminants or pathogens that may be circulating within the passenger compartment or cabin air. The filtering device is further comprised of a decorative or aesthetically pleasing cap that in differing embodiments may be any number of permeable decorative elements such as, but not limited to, flower petals/flowers, bristles, geometric shapes, airplanes, buses, train cars, a flat surface that has a plurality of patterns, textures, designs or combinations thereof. Further, the decorative cap may be fixedly attached to the device body or removable therefrom, thereby allowing the cap to be cleaned or for the user to interchange differing caps with differing design elements.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, each decorative element or the HEPA filer itself may be infused with a scent so that the air passing through the filter and the element retains the specific scent as it is discharged into the passenger cabin, thereby eliminating the smell of stale cabin air. The end cap may also comprise an ornamental component that moves as the air flows through the same, such as a small pinwheel, mobiles or the like, which can be used to provide entertainment to a child or infant while strapped in a passenger seat. The end cap may also be equipped with one or more LED lights, which can be used for supplemental reading light.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and is intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.
The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof.
As noted above, there is a long felt need in the art for a passenger cabin air vent cover device that protects an individual from being directly exposed to airborne pathogens and other undesirable contaminants, and that has redundancy filtering mechanisms to further reduce the possibility that an individual will be exposed. Moreover, there is a long felt need in the art for an air vent cover device that is relatively small and portable, and that not only filters the air but also infuses the filtered air with a pleasant scent. Finally, there exists a long felt need in the art for an air vent cover device that may also be used to entertain a small child on long trips or commutes, and that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.
Referring initially to the drawings,
The body portion 110 is further comprised of a relatively flat and generally circular bottom surface 116 with a continuous opening therein for engaging an air vent 10 opening as described more fully below. The body portion 110 is also comprised of a plurality of continuous opening filter slots 114 which can accommodate a plurality of filters such as first and second filters 130, 150, as described more fully in relation to
As noted above, the air vent filtering device 100 also comprises a decorative end cap 170 that fits over the top of the body portion 110, as best shown in
Additionally, the cap 170 is comprised of a top surface 176 that includes a permeable decorative element 178. In one embodiment of the device 100, the element 178 may be a plurality of colorful artificial flower petal-like protrusions 1780 that give the device 100 an overall aesthetically pleasing appearance. Nonetheless, it is contemplated that the decorative element 178 may vary in differing embodiments of the device 100, and a user may further be able to swap out or exchange caps 170 that are constructed from differing decorative elements 178 based on the wants and needs of the user.
For example,
Further, the decorative element 178 may take on a plurality of known appearances in differing embodiments of the device 100 such as, but not limited to, flowers/flower petals 1780, bristles 1782, sports team logos/mascots, fictional characters (e.g., cartoon characters), seasonal decorations (e.g., Christmas tree, snowflake, easter egg, etc.), etc. Further, one embodiment of the cap 170 may include a relatively flat top surface 176 that has a flat decorative element 178 with a plurality of designs, patterns, colors, or textures in any given embodiment of the device 100. In addition, it is also contemplated that the device 100 may be provided in a kit with several removable caps 170 of differing decorative elements 178, which can be placed on the device 100 as the user desires.
As best shown in
In the preferred embodiment of the device 100, the interior of the body portion 110 may have a plurality of tabs or nubs (not shown) so that the HEPA filter 130 and the UV light filter 150 can rest upon them to retain the same in its proper position within the body portion 110. Nonetheless, in an alternative embodiment of the air filtering device 100 it is contemplated that the body portion 110 may include a plurality of repositionable filter trays for holding each of the HEPA filter 130 and the UV light filter 150 so that they can partially extend outwardly from the body portion 100 through each filter opening 114 via a spring loaded sliding track assembly (not shown). Then, each filter 130/150 may be placed into its respective tray, and pushed back into the body portion 110 to retain the filters 130/150 within the body portion 110.
Each of the first and second filters 130, 150 purify the air leaving the air vent 10 prior to entering the passenger compartment. The first filter 130 is preferably a 0.5-micron HEPA filter, which a user may dispose of and replace after several uses. The HEPA filter 130 is generally disc-shaped and comprised of a relatively flat top surface 132, a bottom surface 134 and a side surface 136. The second filter 150 of the air filtering device 100 is preferably a UV light filter 150. The UV light filter 150 is also preferably comprised of a disc-shaped body that has a flat top surface 152 and flat bottom surface 158. However, the filter 150 also includes a continuous opening 154 in the top surface 152 that gives the filter 150 a ring-like shape or body. The inner surface 155 of the filter 150 includes a UV light source 1540 that extends circumferentially around the entire inner surface 155, such that the light source 1540 shines UV light within the body portion 110 to kill airborne pathogens, bacteria, viruses, germs and the like in the air that passes through the body portion 110 and that may have passed through the HEPA filter 110.
The light source 1540 is preferably powered by a battery 160 that may be stored within the UV light filter 150 or elsewhere in the body portion 110. The battery 160 may be a disposable battery or a rechargeable battery, and may be easily replaced or removed if necessary, for recharging. In one embodiment, the batteries can be selected from disposable batteries or rechargeable batteries in sufficient quantity to provide power to the UV light source 1540. Suitable batteries include alkaline, nickel-cadmium, nickel-metal hydride, etc. Throughout this specification the terms “battery”, “battery pack”, and “batteries” may be used interchangeably to refer to one or more wet or dry cells or batteries of cells in which chemical energy is converted into electricity and used as a source of DC power. References to recharging or replacing batteries may refer to recharging or replacing individual cells, individual batteries of cells, or a package of multiple battery cells as deemed appropriate for any given battery technology that may be used. If the battery 160 is rechargeable, it can be recharged by a user via a USB charging port 1560 on an outer surface 156 of the UV light filter 150. In differing embodiments of the air filtering device 100, the port 1560 may be comprised of any number of a plurality of different USB power ports such as, but not limited to, a Mini-USB, Micro-USB, USB-A, USB-C, etc.
Notwithstanding the forgoing, the passenger compartment air vent filtering device 100 can by any suitable size, shape, and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that it accomplishes the above stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the shape and size of the air vent filtering device 100 and its various components, as show in the FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other shapes and sizes of the air vent filtering device 100 are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although dimensions of the air vent filtering device 100 and its components (i.e., length, width, and height) are important design parameters for good performance, the air vent filtering device 100 and its various components may be of any shape or size that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits user need and/or preference.
What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.
The present application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/091,542 filed on Oct. 14, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63091542 | Oct 2020 | US |
