EP4363063A1

EP4363063A1 - Improved individually portable air-treatment unit having a removable air-treatment element

Info

Publication number: EP4363063A1
Application number: EP22744792.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Yohan DASSONVILLE; Florent Corlay
Original assignee: SEB SA
Current assignee: SEB SA
Priority date: 2021-07-02
Filing date: 2022-06-15
Publication date: 2024-05-08
Also published as: WO2023275453A1; FR3124738B1; CN117597172A; FR3124738A1

Abstract

- The invention relates to an individually portable air-treatment unit (1), comprising a removable air-treatment element (2), a housing (5) provided with an internal recess in which the air-treatment element is removably arranged and an opening (7) for accessing the internal recess, and a closure member (11) mechanically connected to the air-treatment element and movable relative to the housing between: - a locked configuration in which the closure member is locked to the housing and seals the opening, and - an unlocked configuration in which a manual gripping area of the closure member is made more accessible than when the closure member is in the locked configuration in order to allow the air-treatment element to be extracted from the internal recess. - Individually portable air-treatment units.

Description

IMPROVED INDIVIDUALLY PORTABLE AIR HANDLER WITH REMOVABLE AIR HANDLER

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention relates to the general technical field of air treatment apparatus and devices. The invention relates more particularly to an air treatment device, in particular by filtration, individually portable by a user.

PRIOR TECHNIQUE

In the field of respiratory protection equipment, there are already known devices or devices for treating air by filtration, which proceed by purifying the polluted ambient air by means of a filter. This respiratory protection equipment is generally made up of a face piece that more or less envelops the respiratory tract (nose and mouth) and includes a suitable filter. They are designed to provide respiratory protection for their users, by limiting their inhalation of respiratory pollutants, fine particles and other substances with potentially harmful health effects present in the surrounding air. The filter generally has a limited useful life, beyond which the proper functioning of the equipment and/or the respiratory protection provided by the latter are likely to be called into question.

These known devices or devices for treating air by filtration are generally passive, called “free ventilation”, insofar as the passage of air through the filter is ensured solely due to the respiratory exchanges of the user. Intended to be arranged in contact with the face of the user, these passive devices for treating air by filtration, or passive filtering masks, can take the form of a half-mask, which is intended to cover only the lower part of the face, and in particular the mouth and the nose, of the user. In some cases, the filter is an integral part of the half mask and is not intended to be replaced once the maximum recommended duration of use has expired. The half-mask then comprises a facial piece, the major part of its surface of which is provided with air filtration properties. The half-mask is then generally intended to be thrown away after use (disposable half-mask) or, in certain cases, to be cleaned before reuse (half-mask washable, reusable). The disposable nature of the half-mask poses a problem, however, both economically and environmentally, since the entire half-mask must be systematically thrown away. With regard to washable half-masks, the latter, in addition to being generally much more expensive than disposable half-masks, have the disadvantage of having to be cleaned in their entirety, which limits their availability in practice. This also poses a problem here from an economic point of view, since the user must therefore always have enough clean half-masks available until the half-masks used have been cleaned, and from an environmental point of view due to the quantity energy and water needed to clean the half-masks. In other cases, the filter is included in a disposable filter cartridge removably mounted projecting from an outer face of a reusable half-mask body. Very unattractive, much more complex and less practical to use and maintain than the disposable or washable half-masks mentioned above, this type of half-mask is generally specifically dedicated to protecting users in a professional context, for example for personal protection of workers and technicians, firefighters, soldiers, etc. Furthermore, there is a non-negligible risk of damaging the filter, due to the arrangement of the latter projecting.

Alternatively, the known passive filter masks can be in the form of a full face mask, which is intended to cover in particular the nose, mouth, chin, eyes of the user. In this case, the filter is again generally included in a disposable filter cartridge removably mounted projecting from an outer face of a reusable integral mask body. Although generally particularly effective in terms of protection, these full-face filtering masks are highly obstructive, and therefore not very comfortable to use. They are very unattractive, and their use and maintenance are complex. Here again there is a significant risk of damaging the filter, due to the protruding arrangement of the latter. Such full-face filtering masks are thus usually exclusively dedicated to use in a professional context, by persons specifically trained for this purpose.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The objects assigned to the invention therefore aim to provide an answer to the above-mentioned problems, by proposing in particular a new processing apparatus air, individually portable by a user, which is reusable, robust and aesthetic, and whose maintenance is particularly easy, in particular for a user unaccustomed to the use of air treatment devices.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new treatment device whose maintenance is particularly fast and intuitive.

Another object of the invention aims to provide a new treatment device whose use and maintenance are particularly safe and not very dirty.

Another object of the invention aims to provide a new air treatment device which allows effective air treatment.

Another object of the invention aims to provide a new air treatment device which is particularly ergonomic.

Another object of the invention aims to provide a new air treatment device whose port is particularly pleasant and not very obstructive for the user.

Another object of the invention aims to provide a new air treatment device which, while delivering treated air to the user, facilitates the breathing of the latter.

Another object of the invention aims to provide a new air treatment device which is of particularly simple and compact construction.

Another object of the invention aims to provide a new air treatment device which can be easily transported or stored after use.

The objects assigned to the invention are achieved with the aid of an air treatment device, individually portable by a user, comprising a removable air treatment element, a casing provided with a housing internal to the in which said air treatment element is arranged in a removable manner and with an opening giving access to said internal housing, and a closure member which is mechanically connected to the air treatment element and which is movable relative to the housing between:

- a locked configuration in which the closure member is locked to the casing and closes the opening giving access to the internal housing of the casing, and

- an unlocked configuration in which at least one manual gripping zone of the closure member is made more accessible than when the member closure is in the locked configuration to allow extraction of the air treatment element from said internal housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear and emerge in more detail on reading the description given below, with reference to the appended figures, given solely by way of illustrative and non-limiting examples, among which:

- Figure 1 illustrates, in a schematic front view, a preferred embodiment of an air treatment device according to the invention, which device is shown worn by a human user. The apparatus constitutes, in this particular embodiment, an air filtration apparatus with assisted ventilation. The device comprises a main body which here forms a substantially annular body portable around the neck of the user. The main body of the device comprises a front primary element, which comprises the casing within which the removable air treatment element is arranged, and which is connected to two rear secondary elements which hold the main body around the neck of the user. The opening of the case here defines an air inlet of the device. The closure member, which in this embodiment is mounted to pivot relative to the housing, is illustrated in the configuration locked to the housing;

- Figure 2 illustrates, in a schematic perspective view, the device of Figure 1 worn by a human user around his neck. Air circulation is represented by arrows;

- Figure 3 illustrates, in a schematic top view, the device of Figures 1 and 2, the main body of which is in the folded configuration;

- Figure 4 illustrates, in a schematic side view (left), the device of Figures 1 to 3, the closure member being in the configuration locked to the housing;

- Figure 5 illustrates, in a schematic side view (left) in sagittal section l-l (see Figure 3), the device of Figures 1 to 4, whose closure member is in the locked configuration;

- Figure 6 illustrates, in a schematic top view in transverse section ll-ll (see Figure 4), the device of Figures 1 to 5, whose closure member is in the locked configuration; - Figure 7 illustrates, in a schematic side view (left), the device of Figures 1 to 6, the closure member is in the unlocked configuration;

- Figure 8 illustrates, in a schematic side view (left) in sagittal section l-l, the device of Figures 1 to 7, whose closure member is in the unlocked configuration;

- Figure 9 illustrates, in a schematic side view (left) in sagittal section l-l, the apparatus of Figures 1 to 8, including a removable sub-assembly comprising the closure member, a frame forming a filter support frame connected pivoting to the closure member and the air treatment element comprising a filter carried by the frame, is separated from the housing during the extraction of the air treatment element;

- Figure 10 illustrates, in a side view (left) in perspective, the device of Figure 9. The air treatment element comprising a filter is shown separated from the frame forming a filter support frame;

- Figure 11 illustrates, in a front view, the device of Figures 1 to 10 after the closure member, the frame and the processing element have been extracted from the housing;

- Figure 12 illustrates, in an exploded perspective view, the apparatus of Figures 1 to 11;

- Figure 13 illustrates, in a front view, another preferred embodiment of an air treatment device according to the invention. The apparatus constitutes, in this particular embodiment, an air filtration apparatus with assisted ventilation. The device comprises a main body which here forms a substantially annular body portable around the neck of the user. The main body of the device comprises a front primary element, which comprises the casing within which the removable air treatment element is arranged, and which is connected to two rear secondary elements which hold the main body around the neck of the user. The opening of the case here defines an air inlet of the device. The closure member, which in this embodiment is mounted to move in translation relative to the housing, is illustrated in the configuration locked to the housing;

- Figure 14 illustrates, in a side view (left), the device of Figure 13, whose closure member is in the locked configuration; - Figure 15 illustrates, in a side view (left), the device of Figures 13 and 14 whose closure member is in the unlocked configuration;

- Figure 16 illustrates, in a side view (left) in perspective, the device of Figures 13 to 15 whose air filtration element, carried by a frame secured to the closure member, is partially extracted from the housing.

WAYS TO REALIZE THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an air treatment device 1, individually portable by a user. It is therefore advantageously respiratory protection equipment - or at the very least equipment intended to contribute to the preservation of respiratory health - which is designed and configured to be worn on it by a user, human or animal, and to deliver treated air to this user from surrounding ambient air, in particular in a context of atmospheric pollution or even a microbial pandemic/epidemic. It is advantageously a device 1 intended for use in a domestic setting or in the context of the exercise of a professional activity, by a user who is devoid of particular skills and knowledge in respiratory health protection.

The apparatus 1 according to the invention, of which two non-limiting preferential embodiments are illustrated for example in the figures, typically comprises an air inlet for drawing in surrounding ambient air, an air treatment element 2 for treating the ambient air sampled, and an air distribution outlet 3 via which the ambient air sampled and then treated by the air treatment element 2 can be delivered to the user.

In accordance with the invention, said air treatment element 2 is removable, that is to say designed and configured to be able to be separated from the rest of the device 1 . The removable nature of the air treatment element 2 thus makes it possible to ensure easy maintenance (cleaning, repair, adjustment, etc.) and/or replacement thereof, so that the rest of the device 1 is advantageously reusable by the user.

Preferably, the apparatus 1 constitutes an air treatment apparatus by filtration, that is to say an apparatus 1 for air filtration. The air treatment element 2 therefore preferably constitutes an air filtration element. In other words, device 1 is therefore preferably designed and configured to deliver filtered air to the user, from ambient air. As such, the air treatment element 2 advantageously comprises at least one filter 4. The function of such an air filtration element is to separate from the surrounding ambient air, and to retain or destroy, one or more undesirable substances or particles present in suspension, solid(s) or aerosol(s) in the surrounding ambient air, so that the air delivered by the device 1 to the user is depleted, preferably significantly, to undesirable substances or particles initially present in the surrounding ambient air. By way of solid particles, mention may be made of dust, smoke, solid atmospheric pollutants. The term "aerosol" here preferably refers to all fine particles, solid or liquid, of a substance or a mixture of substances, suspended in a gaseous medium, and which generally have a negligible falling speed, less than 0, 25m/s). In ambient air, under normal conditions, this typically corresponds to particles with dimensions less than 100 μm. This definition covers aerosols containing particles of microbial origin (viruses, bacteria, fungi, etc.), animal or plant origin (pollens, allergens, etc.), also called bioaerosols. The air filtration element is designed and configured, typically in terms of choice of filter(s), depending on the level of filtration performance sought for one or more substances to be filtered. Preferably, the air filtration element of the device 1 is designed and configured to retain aerosols. As such, it advantageously comprises one or more air filter(s), in particular one or more class P1 and/or class P2 filter(s), as defined in particular in the French standards NF EN 143:2000 and NF EN 143/A1:2006, and which stop at least 80% of aerosols (class P1) or at least 94% of aerosols (class P2). Preferably, they are HEPA filter(s) (ie so-called “High Efficiency Airborne Particle” filter(s)). The name HEPA applies to any device capable of filtering, in one pass, at least 99.97% of particles with a diameter greater than or equal to 0.3 μm. The air filtration element may optionally comprise several identical or different filters, such as for example an activated carbon filter arranged upstream of a HEPA filter, or even two HEPA filters arranged one behind the other. Still other filters can be envisaged, depending on the nature of the particles or substances to be filtered, and according to the level of corresponding filtration performance expected, such as for example filters based on polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or ceramic. Preferably, the filter 4 of the air treatment element 2 has the shape of a parallelepiped, for example a general shape of rectangular parallelepiped (straight block), which makes it possible to optimize the contact surface of the filter 4 with the air to be treated and to minimize the aeraulic pressure losses induced by the filter 4, in comparison with a filter of generally cylindrical shape with circular base in particular. In addition, such a filter 4 of parallelepipedal shape is generally less complex to manufacture, and therefore less expensive. The cost of using the device 1 is therefore advantageously reduced for the user when the filter 4 is of parallelepipedic shape and not cylindrical with a circular base.

The invention is however not limited to an apparatus 1 for treating air by filtration. Indeed, although in a more complex and more expensive way to implement, the air treatment device 1 could be designed and configured to treat air other than by filtration, and for example by ionization or even by using ultraviolet (UV) light to purify it. Alternatively again, the air treatment device 1 could be designed and configured to treat air not in order to purify it, that is to say to rid it of undesirable substances, but to improve its quality. other features for the comfort and/or preservation of the user's respiratory health. For example, the air treatment device 1 could be designed and configured to humidify or dry the air, to cool or heat the air, or even to scent the air, upstream of its delivery of its delivery to the user. In these different cases, the air treatment element 2 could there also comprise or constitute an element requiring to be extracted from the device 1 by the user for its regular maintenance (repair, cleaning, adjustment, etc. .) and/or its replacement. Possibly, whatever its nature, the air treatment element 2 could only constitute a removable part of a non-fully removable air treatment system that could comprise the device 1 .

As illustrated in the figures, the apparatus 1 according to the invention comprises a casing 5 provided with an internal housing 6 within which the air treatment element 2 is arranged in a removable manner. Advantageously, said casing 5 is irremovable, that is to say it is not designed and configured, as such, to be separated from the rest of the device 1. Casing 5 is provided with a opening 7 which gives access to said internal housing 6, from outside the casing 5, and which is therefore shaped and dimensioned so that the removable air treatment element 2 can be extracted from (and conversely inserted into) internal housing 6 via said opening 7. Typically, the internal housing 6 extends in depth, from said opening 7 towards the interior of the box 5, along a mean extension direction A-A'. The housing 5 advantageously comprises an air inlet 8, which more generally constitutes the air inlet of the device 1, via which ambient air from the environment external to the housing 5 enters the casing 5 in order to be treated by the air treatment element 2, and an air outlet 9 through which the air thus treated leaves the casing 5 with a view to its delivery to the user. The air treatment element 2 is thus advantageously arranged between the air inlet 8 and the air outlet 9 of the casing 5, typically within an aeraulic duct (or aeraulic circuit) internal to the casing 5 which connects the air inlet 8 to the air outlet 9 of the housing 5, so that the air entering the housing 5 through the air inlet 8 is brought to the treatment element of the air 2 to be treated, preferably filtered, by the latter, before leaving the housing 5 via the air outlet 9 of the latter. Said air outlet 9 is itself in aeraulic communication with the air distribution outlet 3 of the apparatus 1, or possibly merged with the latter, in order to distribute the air thus treated to the user. Advantageously, as in the embodiments illustrated as an example in the figures, the air inlet 8 of the housing 5 coincides with the air inlet of the device 1, that is to say that the inlet 8 of the housing 5 forms, as such, the air inlet of the device 1, which simplifies the aeraulic design of the device 1. The housing 5 has an outer surface 10, which advantageously defines a visible shape and contour of the housing 5 and, more generally, an average outer (geometric) envelope of said housing 5. Advantageously, the housing 5 comprises a single and unique internal housing 6 within which is arranged an air treatment element 2 removable, as described above, so as in particular to simplify the design of the device 1, to maintain a relatively limited mass and size, but also to reduce the cost and maintenance time of the device 1.

The device 1 also comprises a movable closure member 11, which is designed and configured to seal (in an airtight manner or not, as will be seen below) the opening 7 for access to the housing 6 of the housing 5, and thus prevent direct access to the air treatment element 2 when the latter is arranged in said internal housing 6. The closure member 11 advantageously has a front face 12 which defines a surface front of the closure member 11, and an opposite rear face 13, which respectively defines a rear surface of the closure member 11. Advantageously, when the closure member 11 is assembled to the housing 5 and closes the opening 7 access to the internal housing 6 of the casing 5, the closure member 11 constitutes a cover part of the housing s of the device 1, which is permanently visible, as in the embodiments illustrated in the figures. The front surface of the front face 12 of the closure member 11 therefore advantageously defines at least a portion of a visible external surface of the device 1 . The closure member 11 is therefore, as such, visible and immediately accessible to the user. Conversely, the rear face 13 of the closure member 11 is therefore advantageously oriented facing the opening 7 for access to the internal housing 6 of the box 5. The closure member 11 and the box 5 thus advantageously together define a access hatch to the internal housing 6 containing the removable air treatment element 2. Preferably, the closure member 11 is rigid and not elastically deformable, in particular by the hand by the user and in normal use of the device 1, so as in particular to protect the air treatment element 2 against possible external shocks. For example, the closure member 11 can be made of rigid, non-elastic plastic material.

According to the invention, the device 1 is designed and configured so that the closure member 11 is movable relative to the housing 5 between

- a locked configuration, in which the closure member 11 is locked to the housing 5 and closes the opening 7 giving access to the internal housing 6 of the housing 5 within which the air treatment element 2 is arranged (figures 1 at 6, 13 and 14), and

- an unlocked configuration, in which the closure member 11 is therefore no longer locked to the housing 5, so as to allow movement of the closure member 11, by the user, away from the opening 7 of the housing 5, thus freeing access to the internal housing 6 of the latter (FIGS. 7, 8 and 15).

The device 1 therefore advantageously comprises a system for temporarily locking the closure member 11 to the casing 5, which is designed and configured to lock the closure member 11 to the casing 5, that is to say to maintain the closure member 11 in the closing position of the opening 7 of the housing 5 (locked configuration). Thus, when the closure member 11 is locked to the casing 5, the closure member 11 cannot therefore be moved away from the opening 7 of the casing 5, and the air treatment element 2 cannot therefore be extracted from the internal housing 6 of the casing 5. Conversely, when the closure member 11 is in the unlocked configuration, the closure member 11 can therefore be moved away from the opening 7 to the casing 5, and the processing element air 2 can therefore be extracted of the internal housing 6 of the casing 5. Obviously here, the term "temporary locking" means a locking which is reversible, not definitive, of the closing member 11 to the casing 5. The temporary locking system of the closing member 11 to the housing 5 is therefore, in other words, designed and configured to reversibly lock the closure member 11 to the housing 5, so that said closure member 11 can therefore switch reversibly from said configuration locked to said unlocked configuration, and vice versa.

According to the invention, the closure member 11 is mechanically connected, that is to say fixed (directly or indirectly), to the air treatment element 2, at least temporarily and at least when the air treatment element 2 is arranged within the internal housing 6 of the casing 5. Thus, once the closure member 11 is in the unlocked configuration, a movement of the closure member 11 away from the casing 5 causes a respective displacement of the air treatment element 2 away from the internal housing 6 of the casing 5.

The closure member 11 has at least one manual gripping zone to allow the user to manually grasp the closure member 11, via said manual gripping zone, and to exert a manual mechanical force against the closure member 11, when the latter is in the unlocked configuration, to move the closure member 11 away from the opening 7 of the housing 5 and thus release said opening 7, in order to allow the extraction of the air treatment element 2 out of said internal housing 6 via the opening 7 thus released. Said manual gripping zone can be single or not, continuous or not.

In accordance with the invention, the device 1 is designed and configured so that, when the closure member 11 is in the unlocked configuration, said manual gripping zone of the closure member 11 is made more accessible (this is that is to say that said manual gripping zone is more accessible, in particular manually) than when the closure member 11 is in the locked configuration, to thus authorize the extraction of the air treatment element 2 from said housing internal 6. This therefore means, conversely, that when the closure member 11 is in the locked configuration, said manual gripping zone of the closure member 11 is made less accessible (that is to say that said zone of manual gripping is less accessible, in particular manually) than when the closure member 11 is in unlocked configuration. In other words, the closure member 11 and the manual gripping area of the latter are therefore designed and configured so that, when the closure member 11 is in the locked configuration, at least part of said manual gripping is inaccessible to the user, and in particular to the latter's fingers. On the contrary, once the closure member 11 is in the unlocked configuration, a greater part, if not all, of the manual gripping zone is made accessible, to thus authorize the extraction by the user of the air treatment element 2 out of the internal housing 6 of the housing 5, by the exertion of a force, preferably traction, against the closure member 11 by the fingers of the user by through said manual gripping zone (FIGS. 7, 8 and 15). Advantageously, the device 1 is designed and configured, in particular in terms of shapes, dimensions and relative layouts of the closure member 11 and of the housing 5, so that the passage of the closure member 11 from the locked configuration to the unlocked configuration generates (or enlarges) a hook, a concavity, between the closing member 11 and the housing 5, thanks to which hooked (or to which concavity) the user can interact manually with the closing member 11 and exert a tensile force against the closure member 11 to separate the latter from the housing 5 and thus extract the air treatment element 2 connected to said closure member 11 .

Mechanically connected to the air treatment element 2, at least temporarily and at least when the air treatment element 2 is arranged within the internal housing 6 of the casing 5, the closure member 11 constitutes thus advantageously, when it is in the unlocked configuration, a gripping member on which the user can act manually, via said manual gripping zone, in order to extract the air treatment element 2 from the internal housing 6 of the housing 5. The device 1 according to the invention thus allows a particularly simple and rapid extraction of the removable air treatment element 2 by the user, so that maintenance and/or replacement of the element air treatment 2 by the user is thus particularly easy. In addition, the invention allows a particularly aesthetic and robust design of the device 1, insofar as, in the locked configuration, at least part of the manual gripping zone of the closure member 11 is inaccessible, concealed, and is therefore advantageously neither visible nor likely to be caught involuntarily during handling, wearing, storage or transport of the device 1. What is more, such a design facilitates the external cleaning of the housing 5. Furthermore, the connection between the air treatment element 2 and the closure member 11 makes it possible to easily extract the air treatment element 2, by means of the closure member 11, by limiting the need for the user to introduce his fingers into the housing 5 of the device 1 and to directly manually manipulate the air treatment element 2 itself, which may be soiled, contaminated. The daily use and maintenance of the device 1 are thus particularly safe and not very messy for the user.

Preferably, as in the embodiments illustrated in the figures, the device 1 is designed and configured so that, in said locked configuration, the manual gripping zone of the closure member 11 is (totally) inaccessible to the user, and in particular to the latter's fingers. In the locked configuration, the closure member 11 is therefore advantageously completely devoid of zone(s), portions(s) or element(s) capable of allowing manual gripping of the closure member 11 by the user. and the extraction of the air treatment element 2 mechanically connected to the latter. This advantageously makes it possible to further reinforce the aforementioned advantages in terms of aesthetics, robustness or even cleanability of the device 1. In addition, the risk of untimely unlocking of the closure member 11 by forcing the locking system temporary, typically under the effect of a mechanical interaction between the closure member 11 and the user, is thus reduced. It is therefore advantageously possible to implement a temporary locking system for the closure member 11 which is of simple, compact and inexpensive design.

As in the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the closure member 11 is preferably removable, that is to say separable from the casing 5, when the closure member 11 is in the unlocked configuration. Once the closure member 11 has been unlocked from the housing 5, the user can thus advantageously manually grasp the closure member 11, via said manual gripping zone, and completely separate the closure member 11 from the housing. 5 of the device 1. This facilitates the general design of the device 1, as well as the extraction of the removable air treatment element 2 by the user. Alternatively, however, the closure member 11 could be mechanically connected to the housing 5 permanently, while being movable relative to the housing 5 to move between said locked and unlocked. It is understood that, in this particular case, the closure member 11 would then be mechanically connected in a removable manner to the air treatment element 2.

Advantageously, as illustrated by example in the figures, the closure member 11, and in particular the front face 12 of the latter, has a shape having at most one plane of symmetry. The shape of the closure member 11 thus advantageously playing a keying role, it facilitates proper repositioning by the user of the element of the closure member 11 in the closing position of the opening 7 of the casing 5, in particular when the closure member 11 is removable, that is to say separable from the casing 5. Advantageously, as in the embodiments illustrated in the figures, the closure member 11 can take the form of a a rigid panel (or plate), not necessarily flat, delimited by one or more lateral edges 14 (or fields or lateral faces) which interconnect the front 12 and rear 13 faces of the closure 11. The closure member 11 therefore then advantageously forms, as such, a hatch door. Said at least one manual gripping zone of the closure member 11 can therefore advantageously comprise a portion of the rear face 13 and an opposite portion of the front face 12, and/or opposite portions of the side edges 14 of the closure member 11, through which the user can thus manually grasp the closure member 11, typically using at least two fingers of the same hand, and for example by pinching between the thumb and index.

Advantageously, as illustrated by example in the figures, the housing 5 and the closing member 11 are shaped and configured so that, in the locked configuration of the closing member 11, the front face 12 of the closing member closure 11 is substantially in geometric continuity (or quasi-continuity) of the outer surface 10 of the housing 5. On the other hand, in the unlocked configuration of the closure member 11, at least a portion of the closure member 11 forming said manual gripping zone advantageously protrudes from the outer surface 10 of the housing s or at the very least beyond the outer middle envelope of the housing 5. This allows, in the locked configuration, a particularly aesthetic integration of the organ closure 11 to the device 1 to the outer profile of the housing 5, furthermore with a particularly limited risk of tearing off the closure member 11, while allowing easy manual handling of the closing member rmeture 11 by the user in unlocked configuration. For example, in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 12, the outer surface 10 of the casing 5 has a peripheral recess 15 along the periphery of the opening 7 of the casing 5. The closure member 11 is shaped and dimensioned so that the side edges 14 of the closure member 11, which here takes the form of a rigid panel, are substantially housed in said recess 15 and do not protrude from the outer surface 10 of the housing 5, when the member closure 11 is in locked configuration. The side edges 14 of the closure member 11 thus being rendered inaccessible, the user therefore cannot manually grasp the closure member 11 through them. The casing 5 and the closure member 11 are also shaped and configured so that, in said locked configuration, the rear face 13 of the closure member 12 is positioned facing the opening 7 of the casing 5 and a bottom of the peripheral recess 15 of said opening 7, without sufficient clearance for the user to be able to insert a finger (or at least part of the end of a finger) between the rear face 13 of the closure member 11 and the external surface 10 of the casing 5, in contact with a portion of the rear face 13 to grip the closure member 11 . If the entire surface of the front face 12 of the closure member 11 is visible and accessible, there is on the other hand no portion of the rear face 13 of the closure member 11 which is manually accessible to the user to allow the latter to manually enter the closure member 11, when the closure member 11 is in the locked configuration (Figures 1 to 6). In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 13 to 16, the rear face 13 of the closure member 11 is arranged in contact with the outer surface 10 of the casing 5 along the side edges 14 of the closure member 11 when the latter is in locked configuration. Advantageously forming ridges, said side edges 14 are here substantially linear, non-surface, that is to say reduced to the state of a curved line delimiting the outline of the closure member 11, and offer no manual grip to the user when the closure member 11 is in the locked configuration. The entire surface of the front face 12 of the closure member 11 is visible and accessible, but there is on the other hand no portion of the rear face 13 of the closure member 11 which is manually accessible to the user to allow the latter to enter the closure member 11, when the closure member 11 is in the locked configuration (Figures 13, 14 and 16). Furthermore, in the embodiments illustrated in the figures, the front face 13 of the closure member 11 is advantageously devoid of any conformation in relief by means of which the user would be likely to manually enter the closure member 11. Thus, the surface of the front face 13 of the closure member 11 is substantially smooth, which contributes to the aesthetics, the robustness as well as the cleanability of the device 1. Conversely, when the closure member 11 is in the unlocked configuration, as illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 on the one hand and in Figure 15 on the other hand, all or part of the side edges 14 and / or at least one portion of the rear face 13 of the closure member 11 are positioned at a distance from the outer surface of the casing 5, or at the very least beyond the outer middle envelope of the casing 5, and are thus made more accessible to the user. The latter can then manually enter the closure member 11 through them. Obviously, the invention is not limited to the conformations and configurations of the housing 5, of the closure member 11 and of the manual gripping zone of the latter, which have just been described in connection with the embodiments illustrated in the figures.

Advantageously with regard in particular to simplicity of design of the apparatus 1, the air inlet 8 of the casing 5 is preferably defined by the opening 7 of the casing 5 which gives access to the internal housing 6 of the latter, and the closure member 11 is permeable to air. Thus, when the closure member 11 is in the locked configuration, the air treatment element 2 being arranged within the internal housing 6 of the casing 5, the ambient air penetrates inside the casing 5 in the direction of the air treatment element 2 through the closure member 11 which covers the air inlet 8 of the casing 5, and therefore closes off said air inlet 8 in a non-airtight manner. Typically provided with a plurality of through holes 16 allowing air to pass through the closure member 11, the latter can advantageously form a protective grille for the air inlet 8 of the housing 5, as illustrated to figures. Such a design further reinforces the intuitive nature of the use and maintenance of the device 1, insofar as the user wishing to extract the removable air treatment element 2 for its maintenance or of its replacement, will naturally tend to seek access to the air treatment element 2 at the level of the air inlet 8 of the housing 5, and this even in the absence of any particular indication on the closure member 11 and/or portion of partially accessible, visible manual gripping zone of the closure member 11 . Advantageously, the orifices 16 which pass right through the closure member 11 each have a cross section with an area of between 0.0020 cm ² and 0.28 cm ² , and even more advantageously of between 0.0037 cm ² and 0.1 cm ² . The orifices 16 may have different cross-sections as illustrated in figures, or alternatively identical. This makes it possible to limit the risk of introduction of solid foreign bodies or even of significant splashing of water inside the casing 5, liable to damage the air treatment element 2 and, more generally, to harm the proper operation of the device 1. However, such a dimensioning of the through holes 16 allows sufficient incoming air flow, without generating excessive air suction noises.

Alternatively, the air inlet 8 of the casing 5 could not be defined by the opening 7 of the casing 5 which gives access to the internal housing 6 of the latter, but possibly by another opening of the casing s, distinct and distance from the opening 7 for access to the internal housing 6. In this case, the closure member 11 could then be airtight.

Preferably, as visible in Figures 5, 6, 8 to 10 and 12, the device 1 comprises a frame 17 which carries the air treatment element 2, and which is slidably mounted within said internal housing 6 of the housing 5. Said sliding frame 17 is secured to the closure member 11, at least temporarily, and preferably permanently. The closure member 11 is therefore thus mechanically connected to the air treatment element 2 via the sliding frame 17 . Thus, a movement of the closure member 11 away from the opening 7 of the housing 5 under the action of a force exerted by the user against the closure member 11, once this ci in the unlocked configuration, causes a respective joint movement of the sliding frame 17 and the air treatment element 2 away from the internal housing 6 of the housing 5. Preferably, the frame 17 is slidably mounted along a rectilinear path at the within said internal housing 6, that is to say according to a slide connection, along an average sliding direction B-B' which is preferably parallel to, and even more preferably coincides with, the average direction of extension A-A' in depth of the internal housing 6. As illustrated in particular in Figures 5, 6 and 8, the frame 17 and the internal housing 6 of the housing 5 preferably have substantially conjugated, complementary conformations, so that the frame 17 is mounted flush narrow movement, that is to say without significant play in secant directions to the average direction of sliding B-B ', within said internal housing 6. Preferably, as in the embodiments illustrated in the figures, the closure member 11 and the frame 17 constitute a fully separable subassembly from the casing 5, once the closure member 11 is in the unlocked configuration. As such, the opening 7 for access to the internal housing 6 of the box 5 is shaped and configured so that the frame 17 can be extracted and separated from the box δ via said opening 7. In this case, the chassis 17 can advantageously carry the air treatment element 2 in a removable manner, so that the air treatment element 2 can therefore be detached from the chassis 17 (FIG. 10). This proves to be advantageous in the particular case where the air treatment element 2 is intended to be discarded after use, the closure member 11 and the sliding frame 17 then being able to be reused in combination with an air treatment element. look 2 new. Alternatively, frame 17 could carry air treatment element 2 in a non-removable manner. The closure member 11, the frame 17 and the air treatment element 2 could then constitute a subassembly of the device 1 intended to be discarded and completely replaced, or even intended to be cleaned before reuse.

When the air treatment element 2 constitutes an air filtration element and as such comprises at least one filter 4, as previously envisaged and as in the embodiments illustrated in the figures, said frame 17 can then advantageously form a filter support frame in which the filter 4 is arranged, preferably in a removable manner. The frame 17 is then advantageously in the form of a frame which delimits an interior space 18 shaped and sized to receive the filter 4 tightly within it. When the filter 4 advantageously has a parallelepipedal shape, for example the general shape of a rectangular parallelepiped (straight block), as envisaged previously and as illustrated in the figures, the frame 17 then advantageously takes the form of a frame which defines a space interior 18 of conjugate parallelepipedal shape, and whose section has the shape of a corresponding parallelogram (for example the shape of a rectangle). The filter 4 may typically have two air-porous filter faces, namely a free inlet face 4A and an opposite free outlet face 4B, and at least one side face 4C which connects said free inlet faces together. 4A and 4B output. Housed at least partially in said interior space 18, the filter 4 is then carried by the frame 17 via its side face(s) 4C. When the filter 4 is arranged removable in the filter support frame, the filter 4 can simply be inserted into the frame filter support, possibly by force fitting. When the filter 4 is arranged in a non-removable manner in the filter support frame, the filter 4 can optionally be glued into the filter support frame via its side face(s) 4C. In the case of a plurality of filters, the latter can advantageously be arranged (removably or not) within the filter support frame in the manner described above, in series, possibly pressed against each other by the through their free faces 4A, 4B.

The implementation of such a sliding frame 17 makes it possible to further facilitate the extraction of the air treatment element 2. It also advantageously contributes to reciprocally ensuring precise, reliable and repeatable positioning of the element. air treatment 2 within the internal housing 6, whether it is an air treatment element 2 used and then cleaned, or a new air treatment element 2. The closure member 11 and the frame 17 thus advantageously form a “trap door-drawer” system allowing particularly simple, rapid, efficient and intuitive insertion and extraction of the removable air treatment element 2.

Preferably, as illustrated in particular in Figures 9 to 12, the frame 17 and the internal housing 6 of the housing 5 are provided with elastic retaining means which cooperate to maintain the frame 17 in a predetermined position in the internal housing 6. For example, said elastic retaining means may comprise on the one hand one or more lugs 19A (or protrusions) arranged projecting from a peripheral surface of the frame 17 (FIGS. 10 and 12), and on the other hand one or more elastically deformable tabs 19B provided in, or carried by, an internal face of the internal housing 6 (FIGS. 9 and 11). The implementation of such elastic retaining means makes it possible in particular, on the one hand, to hold the air treatment element 2 in position in the internal housing 6, even when the closure member 11 is in the unlocked configuration. After having ordered the passage of the closure member 11 in the unlocked configuration, the user must therefore exert against the closure member 11 a sufficient force to stop the cooperation of the elastic retaining means and thus achieve slide the frame 17 to extract the air treatment element 2. This reduces the risk of uncontrolled extraction of the air treatment element 2, barely the closure member 11 moved into the unlocked configuration . On the other hand, in the case where, as illustrated by example in Figures 5, 6, 8, 9, 11 and 12, the housing 5 comprises a seal 20 to ensure an aeraulic seal between the air treatment element 2 and a surface of the internal housing 6, the implementation of said elastic retaining means advantageously makes it possible to ensure uniform and reliable compression of the seal 20 between said surface of the internal housing 6 and the frame 17 and/or the air treatment element 2. In addition, the cooperation of the elastic retaining means during the installation of the air treatment element 2 advantageously generates a noise audible to the user, which allows the latter to ensure that the air treatment element 2 is correctly arranged within the internal housing 6 of the casing 5.

Different variants of kinematics of the closure member 11 movable relative to the housing 5 between said locked and unlocked configurations can be envisaged, including in particular, but not limited to, preferred "pivoting" or "translation" variants such as as described below.

According to a so-called “pivoting” or “rocking” variant, implemented in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 12, the device 1 is designed and configured so that the closure member 11 is pivotally movable according a pivot axis C-C' relative to the housing 5 between said locked configuration and said unlocked configuration. As illustrated by example in the figures, the pivot axis C-C' of the closure member 11 is preferentially orthogonal to the direction of mean extension A-A' of the internal housing 6 in depth. Thus, the manual gripping zone of the closure member 11 is made more accessible in the unlocked configuration than in the locked configuration by a pivoting of the closure member 11 along said pivot axis C-C'. Advantageously, the passage of the closure member 11 from the locked configuration to the unlocked configuration by pivoting along the pivot axis C-C' makes it possible to create (or enlarge) a concavity between the closure member 11 and the housing 5 in which the user can insert at least partially at least one of his fingers to grasp the closure member 11, then exert a tensile force against the closure member 11 to separate the latter from the housing 5 and thus extracting the air treatment element 2 connected to said closure member 11 . In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 12, the pivoting (shown schematically by an arrow in Figure 4) of the closure member 11 thus advantageously makes it possible to make (manually) accessible at least a lower portion of the rear face 13 and side edges 14 of the closure member 11, which was (manually) inaccessible in the locked configuration of the closure member 11. Said lower portion of the face back 13 and of the side edges 14 of the closure member 11 then protrudes sufficiently beyond the outer middle envelope of the case 5 for the user to be able to grasp the closure member 11, then exert against it a tensile force to separate the closure member 11 from the housing 5 and thus extract the air treatment element 2, via said lower portion of the rear face 13 and the side edges 14 of the closure 11, using at least one finger slid between the housing 5 and the rear face 13 of the closure member 11 (FIG. 7).

In this so-called “pivoting” variant, it is possible to provide that the closure member 11 is connected directly to the housing 5, without intermediate piece, preferably in a removable manner, pivoting along said pivot axis C-C′. Alternatively, as in the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 12, the closure member 11 is pivotally secured to the sliding frame 17, as described above. In this way, when the frame 17 is arranged within the internal housing 6 of the casing 5 (FIGS. 5 and 8 in particular), the closure member 11 is pivotally movable relative to the casing 5, along said pivot axis C- C', indirectly via said frame 17.

Preferably, the device 1 is designed and configured so that the pivot axis C-C' of the closure member 11 extends transversely relative to the closure member 11, so as to thus define first and second parts 11 A, 11 B of the closure member 11 which are arranged, which extend, on either side of said pivot axis C-C'. For example, in the example illustrated in Figures 1 to 12 where the closure member 11 advantageously extends along a mean extension plane which is oriented vertically in use of the device 1, the first part 11A of the closure member 11 forms an upper part of closure member 11 which extends above pivot axis C-C', while second part 11B of closure member 11 forms an upper part bottom of the closure member 11 which extends below the pivot axis C-C'. Thus, when the closure member 11 passes from the locked configuration to the unlocked configuration by pivoting along the pivot axis C-C', the first part 11A of the closure member 11 moves closer to the housing 5, while the second part 11 B of the closure member 11 moves away from the housing 5. In this case, the manual gripping zone of the closure member 11 is therefore positioned at the level of the second part 11 B of the member closure 11. Advantageously, the housing s comprises an abutment zone 21, which is arranged in facing and at a distance from the first part 11A of the closure member 11 when the closure member 11 is in the locked configuration (FIG. 5) and against which the first part 11A of the closure member 11 is intended to come in contact once the closure member 11 is in the unlocked configuration (FIG. 8). Thus, once the closure member 11 is in the unlocked configuration, and when the user exerts a manual tensile force against the closure member 11 via the manual gripping zone of this last made (more) accessible, to separate the closing member 11 from the opening 7 of the housing 5, the first part 11 A of the closing member 11 advantageously bears against the abutment zone 21 of the housing 5. By lever effect, the extraction of the air treatment element 2 from the internal housing 6 of the casing 5 is thus facilitated, and this in particular in the advantageous case where, as envisaged above, the element of air treatment 2 is carried by a frame 17 slidably mounted within the internal housing 6 and that the frame 17 and said internal housing 6 are advantageously provided with elastic retaining means which cooperate to hold the frame 17 in position in the housing internal 6.

According to another so-called “translation” variant, implemented in the embodiment of FIGS. 13 to 16, the device 1 is designed and configured so that the closure member 11 is movable in translation in a direction of translation D-D' with respect to the box 5 between said locked configuration and said unlocked configuration. Advantageously, the passage of the closure member 11 from the locked configuration to the unlocked configuration by translation in a direction of translation D-D′ makes it possible to create a disconnect between the closure member 11 and the housing 5, thanks to which the disconnected user can manually grasp the closure member 11, then exert a tensile force against the closure member 11 to separate the latter from the housing 5 and thus extract the air treatment element 2 connected to said member closing 11 . Advantageously, it is a pure translation, that is to say according to a single degree of freedom in translation according to said direction of translation D-D′. As illustrated by example in the figures, the direction of translation D-D' of the closure member 11 is preferably parallel to, and even more preferably collinear with or coincident with, the direction of average extension A-A' of the internal housing 6 in depth. Thus, the manual gripping zone of the closure member 11, comprising for example opposite portions of the side edges 14 and/or a portion of the rear face 13 of the closure member 11, is made more accessible by unlocked configuration than in locked configuration by a translation of the closure member 11, in said direction of translation D-D′, away from the housing 5 (shown schematically by an arrow in FIG. 14).

In this so-called "translational" variant, it is possible to provide that the closure member 11 is connected directly to the housing 5, that is to say without intermediate piece, preferably in a removable manner, in translation in said direction of translation D-D'. Alternatively, the closure member 11 can be secured to a sliding frame 17, as described above, immobile or possibly pivoting relative to said frame 17. In this way, when the frame 17 is arranged within the internal housing 6 of casing 5, closure member 11 is movable in translation relative to casing 5 indirectly via said frame 17.

Preferably, the device 1 comprises, in addition to a temporary locking system of the closure member 11 to the housing 5 as already mentioned above, a manual control member for manually controlling the unlocking of said temporary locking system. Thus, the passage of the closure member 11 from the unlocked configuration to the locked configuration can be carried out easily and quickly by the user, without requiring the use of any external tool (such as a screwdriver or pliers, for example).

According to a variant, the manual control member may comprise at least part of the closure member 11, which is intended to receive a manual push force from the user to control the unlocking of the temporary locking system of the closure member 11 and thus allow passage of the closure member 11 in the unlocked configuration.

Particularly advantageously, in the case described above where the pivot axis C-C' of the closure member 11 extends transversely relative to the closure member 11 so as to define first and second parts 11 A, 11 B of the closure member 11 arranged on either side of said pivot axis C-C', the manual control member can then advantageously comprise said first part 11 A of the closure member 11 and the temporary locking system can then comprise complementary reversible locking means, which are respectively carried by the second part 11 B of the closure member 11 and by the housing 5. Thus, as illustrated by example in FIG. 4, when the closure member 11 is in the locked configuration, the first part 11A of the closure member 11 advantageously defines an external manual support zone against which the user can exert a pushing force, using a finger for example , to separate the complementary reversible locking means and to stop their cooperation by leverage (FIG. 8). The manual control member therefore thus comprises only part of the closure member 11, which limits the risk of unexpected unlocking of the temporary locking system of the closure member 11. Such a design is particularly easy to implement from a technical point of view.

For example, as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 12, said complementary reversible locking means can be complementary reversible elastic interlocking means 22A, 22B (or “clips”), which cooperate by complementary male/female to lock the closure member 11 to the housing 5. According to another example (not illustrated), said complementary reversible locking means could comprise at least one pair of permanent magnets, or at least one permanent magnet and a part made of a ferromagnetic material. Thus, the second part 11 B of the closure member 11 can reciprocally advantageously constitute (or at the very least contribute to constitute) a manual control member for controlling the locking of the temporary locking system of the closure member 11. Indeed, the second part 11 B can then advantageously define an external manual support zone against which the user can exert a pushing force, using a finger for example, to bring the means complementary reversible locks and cause them to cooperate in order to lock the closure member 11 to the housing 5. The locking/unlocking kinematics is thus not only simple to implement technically, but it is also particularly intuitive for the user.

Alternatively, in the case for example where the pivot axis C-C' of the closure member 11 does not extend transversely relative to the closure member 11 or even where the closure member 11 does not is not movable in pivoting relative to the housing s, but in translation for example, the temporary locking system of the closure member 11 could for example comprise a mechanism of the "push-release" type, mechanically connected to the locking member closure 11 so as to be able to be controlled by a thrust exerted by the user against at least part of the closure member 11 . According to another variant, more complex and costly to implement technically, the manual unlocking control member of the temporary locking system of the closing member can be moved away from the closing member 11 . For example, as illustrated in Figure 16, the manual control member may include a control button 23 carried by the housing 5, remote from the closure member 11, and which is mechanically connected to the temporary locking system of the closure member 11 to control the unlocking. Optionally, the temporary locking system can be advantageously designed and configured to automatically rearm, and thus automatically lock the closure member 11 to the housing 5, when the user repositions the closure member 11 in the closing position of the opening 7 of the case after having cleaned or replaced the air treatment element 2.

Preferably, as in the embodiments illustrated in the figures, the device 1 more specifically constitutes a device 1 for air treatment with assisted ventilation, and more preferably still a device 1 for filtering air with assisted ventilation. In other words, the device 1 is therefore designed and configured to deliver to the user a flow F of treated air, preferably filtered, and forced from ambient air. As such, the device 1 advantageously comprises at least one fan 24 (or “motorized fan unit”) to generate a flow F of forced air from ambient air taken from the environment of the device 1 . The generation of a flow F of forced air by the fan 24 of the device 1 offers in particular the advantage of compensating for a loss of air pressure that the air treatment element 2 could generate, in particular when the latter more specifically constitutes an air filtration element. Thus, the user of the device 1 is not obliged to force his breathing to compensate himself for such a loss of pressure, which therefore saves him additional effort and fatigue, unlike what can be observed (or at the very least felt) when wearing a so-called “free ventilation” air filtration device, such as conventional protective masks or half-masks. When the air treatment element 2 advantageously constitutes an air filtration element, the implementation of such a fan 24 also advantageously allows the implementation of a filter 4 of greater thickness, and therefore of a greater filtering power, than in the case where the device 1 would be "free ventilation" and therefore devoid of such a fan 24. Furthermore, the capacity of the device 1 to generate a flow F of forced treated air advantageously allows, as in the embodiments illustrated in the figures, an arrangement of the air distribution outlet 3 of the device 1 at a distance from the user's respiratory tract, and more generally at a distance from the face of the latter (FIG. 2). Thus, as in the embodiments illustrated in the figures, the device 1 can advantageously be devoid of any part or element provided, that is to say specifically designed and configured, to come into contact with the face of the user, in particular to guide the flow F of air distributed by the air distribution outlet 3 and/or to ensure airtightness between the air distribution outlet 3 and the face of the user. Wearing the device 1 is thus particularly comfortable, not very obstructive, for the user.

As in the embodiments illustrated in the figures, said fan 24 is advantageously arranged within the casing 5 in which the air treatment element 2 is housed. The air inlet 8 of the casing 5, the fan 24 and the air outlet 9 of the housing 5 are then in aeraulic communication, so that the fan 24 in operation draws in surrounding air external to the device 1 via said air inlet 8 in order to blow it in the direction of said air outlet 9. Connected in aeraulic communication or coincident with the air outlet 9 of the housing 5, the air distribution outlet 3 of the device 1 is then advantageously configured to blow said flow F d air, treated by the air treatment element 2, in the direction of the airways (nose and/or mouth) of the user. Preferably, the fan 24 is arranged between the air treatment element 2 and the air outlet 9 of the casing 5, in consideration of the direction of air circulation through the casing 5, which makes it possible to simplify the design of the device 1, but also to limit the risk of fouling of the fan 24 insofar as the ambient air sucked in under the action of the fan 24 is thus treated by the air treatment element 2 before d 'reach the fan 24. Typically, the fan 24 of the device 1 constitutes a motor-fan unit comprising at least one electric motor and at least one propeller or fan wheel connected to the electric motor. Advantageously, the device 1 also comprises a device for controlling the fan 24, to allow the user to control its switching on, the speed of rotation, etc. Advantageously, the fan 24 is a centrifugal fan, or radial turbine fan, and even more advantageously a so-called “squirrel cage” or “action” centrifugal fan. Such a fan 24 indeed has the advantage of allowing the generation of an air flow F of high flow rate and pressure, with excellent efficiency, and for a limited size. Optionally, the apparatus 1 may comprise a particle sensor and a device for controlling the rotational speed of the fan 24, connected to said particle and/or volatile organic compound(s) sensor, to adapt the speed of rotation of the fan 24 (and therefore the flow rate of the air flow F generated) according to the content of particles and/or of volatile organic compound(s) in the air to be treated .

Advantageously, the energy required for the electrical operation of the device 1, and in particular of the fan 24, is provided by an electric storage battery, which is preferably arranged inside the housing 5. Advantageously, the electrical operation of the device 1 is controllable by the user via at least one on/off button, which is preferably carried by the case 5.

Preferably, the device 1 for air treatment being with assisted ventilation as envisaged above and as in the embodiments illustrated in the figures, and therefore comprising a fan 24 arranged within the housing 5, the device 1 comprises a main body 25, which includes on the one hand at least one primary element 26 comprising the air distribution outlet 3 of the device 1, and on the other hand at least one secondary element 27, which is advantageously designed and configured to hold the main body 25 of the device 1 in place relative to the body of the user. Preferably, said at least one secondary element 27 is designed and configured to sufficiently surround the user's neck or head to ensure that the main body 25 is held around the user's neck or head. Preferably, the primary 26 and secondary 27 elements of the main body 25 are both substantially rigid, devoid of their own flexibility.

Advantageously, the primary element 26 has a primary outer face 26A, which is oriented towards the outside of the main body 25 and which advantageously defines a visible outer surface portion of the main body 25, and an opposite primary inner face 26B. Oriented towards the inside of the main body 25, and therefore facing the body of the user in use of the device 1, said primary internal face 26B advantageously defines a visible internal surface portion of the main body 25.

The primary element 26 and the secondary element 27 are advantageously interconnected by means of articulation 28 which are designed and configured to allow the main body 25 to move between a relative folded configuration of the primary elements 26 and secondary 27 (FIG. 3) and a relative deployed configuration of the primary 26 and secondary 27 elements (FIGS. 1, 2 and 16 in particular), and vice versa. The main body 25 is therefore articulated so that the user can pass it, preferably manually:

- a first configuration (called folded configuration), in which the primary 26 and secondary 27 elements of the main body 25 are folded relative to each other, and typically towards each other (Figure 3) , to

- A second configuration (called deployed configuration) in which the primary 26 and secondary 27 elements of the main body 25 are unfolded relative to each other (Figures 1, 2 and 16 in particular).

Thus, the deployed configuration of the main body 25 advantageously corresponds to a configuration of use of the device 1, in which the latter is capable of being set up, carried and put into operation by the user, and in which the main body 25 occupies a given bulk volume. The folded configuration of the main body 25 advantageously corresponds to a storage configuration, in which the main body 25 occupies a smaller bulk volume. Thanks to the implementation of such hinge means 28, the device 1 is thus easy to put in place for use, then to remove, and its size can be significantly reduced for storage after use. The device 1 according to the invention can thus advantageously constitute a "nomadic" device, which can easily accompany its user in his daily life and his movements, and be stored easily in a limited space, such as for example in a pocket, a bag handbag or a little backpack.

Advantageously, as in the embodiments illustrated in the figures, the main body 25 of the device 1 is designed and configured to be put in place and worn by the user around his neck (FIGS. 1 and 2). The main body 25 of the device 1 being initially in the folded configuration, the user can then manually switch it to the unfolded configuration by exerting a force on the primary 26 and secondary 27 elements to separate them from each other. (Deployed configuration), before arranging the main body 25 of the device 1 around his neck. Preferably, in said relative deployed configuration of the primary 26 and secondary 27 elements, the main body 25 forms a substantially annular body, or at least partially annular, portable around the neck of the user, as in the embodiments illustrated in the figures. The main body 25 of the device 1 therefore has a shape and a mass advantageously adapted to be worn by a human user (or alternatively an animal), around his neck. Here, the term “annular” advantageously means the fact that the main body 25 has, in the deployed configuration, a ring shape, substantially oval or circular, or even rectangular. The term "partially annular" advantageously means a shape open up to a quarter turn of the ring, which, if it were continuous, would then be annular. Such an at least partially annular shape of the main body 25 of the device 1 contributes to excellent ergonomics and great comfort of use of the device 1. In particular, the shape (at least partially annular) of the main body 25 of the device 1 facilitates not only the positioning, but also the wearing of said main body 25 by the user, around his neck, the main body 25 possibly being able to rest at least partly on the shoulders of the user, once set up. Wearing the device 1 is particularly comfortable for the user, whose hands can advantageously remain free, the main body 25 of the device 1 advantageously accompanying the movements of the body, and in particular of the head, of the user. without bothering or hampering them particularly. As illustrated by example in the figures, the respective primary 26B and secondary internal faces of the primary 26 and secondary 27 elements have a preferentially curved, concave profile, with a concavity oriented towards a free space 29 defined at the center of the main body 25 when the latter is in deployed configuration (FIGS. 6 and 16 in particular). In use of the device 1 (FIGS. 1 and 2), the free space 29 is at least partially occupied by the user's neck, the internal surface of the main body 25 then being oriented facing the user's neck. . Advantageously, the main body 25 is sized so that its internal surface is not in immediate close contact with the neck of the user, when the latter is equipped with the device 1, but on the contrary there is a certain play between the skin of the user's neck and said internal surface, at least over part of the periphery of said free space 29 at the center of the main body 5 of the device 1 (FIG. 2). The wearing comfort of the appliance 1 is thus further improved, by reducing the risk of feeling of strangulation for the user. This also advantageously allows the user to wear the device 1 in combination with a scarf wrapped around his neck, in winter for example. As in the embodiments illustrated in the figures, the main body 25 of the device 1 preferably comprises the casing 5, described above, in which the air treatment element 2 and the fan 24 are housed, in accordance with what precedes. The air treatment element 2 and the fan 24 are therefore advantageously integrated into the main body 25 of the device 1, and not remote from the latter, which would make it necessary to implement a special air connection between the housing 5 and the air distribution outlet 3 carried by the primary element 26 of the main body 25. The compactness and portability of the device 1 is thus further improved. Preferably again, the primary element 26 of the main body 25 of the device 1 comprises said casing 5, that is to say that the latter constitutes at least a part of said primary element 26. This makes it possible to simplify the aeraulic design. of the device 1 in particular, insofar as the primary element 26 thus comprises both the air inlet of the device 1 (advantageously constituted by the air inlet 8 of the housing 5), the air treatment element 2, the fan 24 and the air distribution outlet 3. As already specified above, said casing 5 is advantageously non-removable, that is to say it is not designed and configured , as such, to be separated from the rest of the device 1, and therefore in particular here from the rest of the primary element 26 of the main body 25.

Preferably again, as in the embodiments illustrated in the figures, the external surface 10 of the housing 5 defines the primary external face 26A and the primary internal face 26B of the primary element 26. The average external (geometric) envelope of the housing 5 thus advantageously defines most, if not all, of an average outer (geometric) envelope of the primary element 26. Thus, the housing 5 does not therefore constitute a projecting subassembly of the primary element 26. The air treatment element 2 arranged in the housing 5 is therefore advantageously housed inside the primary element 26 itself, so that it is well protected against a risk of tearing by interaction of the device 1 with the user or any other surrounding external element. The device 1 is thus particularly robust and compact.

As in the embodiments illustrated in the figures, the primary element 26 of the main body 25 of the apparatus 1 preferably forms a front element of said main body 25, and therefore an element which advantageously constitutes a front part of the main body 25 of the device 1, which is intended to be positioned essentially in front of the user (in consideration of a frontal plane of the latter), and in particular advantageously in front of the head (and therefore the neck) of the user, in normal use of the device 1 (figures 1 and 2). The primary outer face 26A thus advantageously forms a front face of the main body 25. In return, the secondary element 27 of the main body 25 of the apparatus 1 preferably forms a rear element of said main body 25. It is therefore understood that, as illustrated by example in FIG. 2, said at least one secondary element 27 advantageously constitutes a rear part of the main body 25 of the apparatus 1 which is intended to be positioned at, or to extend towards, the rear of the body of the user, and in particular advantageously at/towards the back of the head (and therefore of the neck) of the user, in normal use of the device 1 . The installation of the device 1 on the body of the user is thus facilitated, since it does not require a precise adjustment of the main body 25 of the device 1, but only involves checking that the front element is well positioned in front of the user's head, and that the rear element is well positioned behind (or at least towards the back) of the head (and therefore neck) of the user.

Advantageously, as in the embodiments illustrated in the figures, the main body 25 of the device 1 comprises two separate secondary elements 27, which more advantageously form two rear elements of said main body 25. Preferably, each of said secondary elements 27 is connected to the primary element 26, which then forms a front element of the main body 25, by means of articulation 28 as mentioned above. Preferably, the two secondary elements 27 are then identical, one to the other, by mirror symmetry with respect to a median sagittal plane P1 of the main body 25 of the device 1 (FIG. 6 in particular). The secondary elements 27 can advantageously form two arms or branches for holding the main body 25 of the device 1 relative to the body of the user, and in particular around the neck of the latter as in the embodiments illustrated in the figures, when the main body 25 is in the deployed configuration.

Preferably, as in the embodiments illustrated in the figures, the primary element 26 of the main body 25 forms a single front element of the main body 25, and comprises the housing 5 in which the air treatment element 2 is housed. and the fan 24, in accordance with the above. Advantageously, as previously envisaged, the air inlet 8 of the casing 5 (and therefore advantageously the air inlet of the device 1) is defined by the opening 7 of the casing 5 giving access to the internal housing 6 of this last, the closure member 11 being permeable to air, and the closure member 11, the housing 5, and the air distribution outlet 3 are shaped and arranged so that the median sagittal plane P1 constitutes a sagittal plane of symmetry of the main body 25 of the device 1. Thus, the main body 25 has an excellent weight balance ensuring its good maintenance in place and a great comfort of use to the user. Advantageously again, the housing 5 is arranged so that the opening 7 of said housing 5 emerges from the primary outer face 26A of the primary element 26 before, so that the closure member 11 advantageously constitutes a cowling element of the primary element 26 before, which is positioned on the front face of the main body 25, as illustrated by example in the figures.

Optionally, the device 1 may include a retractable foot 30, to adjust the positioning of the main body 25 relative to the body of the user, and in particular to ensure the most stable positioning and maintenance possible of the dispensing outlet. air 3 as close as possible (but advantageously still at a distance) from the user's respiratory tract. As illustrated by example in the figures, such a retractable foot 30 can be connected to the primary element 26 of the main body 25, and be provided with a support surface on a part of the body, and preferably on the chest, of the user. Advantageously, the retractable foot 30 is designed to be completely retractable inside the primary element 26, foldable to pivot in the direction of the latter (as in the embodiments illustrated in the figures), and/or to be telescopic. Such a retractable foot 30 advantageously makes it possible to best adapt the device 1 to the morphology of the user by directing the air distribution outlet 3 as close as possible to the respiratory tract of the latter, or on the contrary by allowing him to move away the air distribution outlet 3 as needed, during use of the device 1 . When the primary element 26 advantageously forms a front element of the main body 25 of the device 1, as in the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the manipulation of the retractable foot 30 thus advantageously allows the front element to describe a stroke running from the user's chest (lower position) to the wearer's nose (higher position), and vice versa. Thus the user can bring the front element closer or further away from his mouth as he wishes and adapt the flow F of blown air to his needs. The user can also, with one hand, lower the front element to facilitate communication with those around him by clearing his face.

Advantageously, when the manual unlocking control member of the temporary locking system of the closure member is remote from the closure member 11, and as such comprises a control button 23 carried by the housing 5 to distance from the closure member 11 as previously envisaged, the control button 23 can be arranged at the level of a zone of the device 1 whose retractable foot 30 overlaps when it is retracted. This advantageously limits the risk of involuntary actuation of the control button 23, in particular during storage or transport of the device 1, once the retractable foot 30 has been retracted to cover said control button 23.

Advantageously, the primary element 26 comprises an air diffusion portion 31 (or diffuser), which advantageously defines or carries the air distribution outlet 3 of the device 1, and which is preferentially transparent or translucent, so to limit the visual masking of the face of the user by the device 1. Optionally, the device 1 can include a sensor for fine particles and/or volatile organic compounds, which detects the presence of fine particles and/or organic compounds volatiles in the surrounding ambient air and measures their concentration. Advantageously, such a sensor is designed and configured to transmit to a remote computer or smart phone, for example via a wireless data link, information relating to the presence and concentration of such fine particles and/or compounds. volatile organic matter, so as to inform the user about the quality of the surrounding air.

It is clearly understood that, in the foregoing, the terms "primary" / "secondary", "first" / "second" do not, as such, imply any particular technical limitation, and are only used for the purpose of to differentiate lexically certain elements of the apparatus 1 described.

POSSIBILITY OF INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION

The invention finds its application in the design and manufacture of air treatment apparatus and devices, and more particularly of air treatment apparatus, in particular by filtration, individually portable by a user.

Claims

1. Apparatus (1) for air treatment, individually portable by a user, comprising a removable air treatment element (2), a housing (5) provided with an internal housing (6) in which said air treatment element (2) is arranged in a removable manner and with an opening (7) giving access to said internal housing (6), and a closure member (11) which is mechanically connected to the treatment element air (2) and which is movable relative to the housing (5) between:

- a locked configuration in which the closure member (11) is locked to the casing (5) and closes the opening (7) giving access to the internal housing (6) of the casing (5), and

- an unlocked configuration in which at least one manual gripping zone of the closure member (11) is made more accessible than when the closure member (11) is in the locked configuration to allow the extraction of the element of air treatment (2) out of said internal housing (6).

2. Device (1) according to the preceding claim, which is designed and configured so that, in said locked configuration, said manual gripping zone is inaccessible.

3. Apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (5) comprises an air inlet (8), which is defined by the opening (7) of the housing (5) giving access to said internal housing (6), the closure member (11) being permeable to air.

4. Apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the closure member (11) is pivotable about a pivot axis (C-C) relative to the housing (5) between said locked configuration and said unlocked configuration.

5. Apparatus (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the pivot axis (CC) of the closure member (11) extends transversely relative to the closure member (11) so as to define first and second parts (11 A, 11 B) of the closure member (11) which are arranged on either side of said pivot axis (CC), the housing (5) comprising an abutment zone ( 21), which is arranged opposite and at a distance from the first part (11 A) of the closure member (11) when the closure member (11) is in the locked configuration, and against which the first part (11A) of the closure member (11) is intended to come into contact once the closure member (11) is in the unlocked configuration.

6. Apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the closure member (11) is movable in translation relative to the housing (5) between said locked configuration and said unlocked configuration.

7. Apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, which comprises a system for temporarily locking the closure member (11) to the housing (5) and a manual control member for manually controlling the unlocking of said locking system. temporary lock.

8. Apparatus (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said manual control member is remote from the closure member (11).

9. Apparatus (1) according to claims 5 and 7, wherein the manual control member comprises said first part (11 A) of the closure member (11), the temporary locking system comprising complementary locking means reversible, for example complementary means of reversible elastic fitting (22A, 22B), which are respectively carried by the second part (11 B) of the closure member (11) and by the housing (5).

10. Apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, which constitutes an apparatus (1) for treating air by filtration, said air treatment element (2) comprising at least one filter (4).

11. Apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, which comprises a frame (17) which carries said air treatment element (2) and which is slidably mounted within said internal housing (6), said frame (17) being secured to the closure member (11).

12. Apparatus (1) according to claims 10 and 11, wherein said frame (17) forms a filter support frame in which said filter (4) is arranged, preferably removably.

13. Apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 11 and 12, wherein the frame (17) and said internal housing (6) are provided with elastic retaining means (19A, 19B) which cooperate to hold the frame ( 17) in position in the internal housing (6).

14. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, which constitutes a device (1) for air treatment with assisted ventilation, comprising at least one fan (24) arranged within said housing (5) to generate a flow (F) of air, and at least one air distribution outlet (3) configured to blow said flow (F) of air in the direction of the respiratory tract of the user.

15. Apparatus (1) according to the preceding claim, which comprises a main body (25) including:

- at least one primary element (26) comprising said air distribution outlet (3), and

- at least one secondary element (27), designed and configured to hold the main body (25) of the device (1) in place relative to the body of the user, said primary element (26) and said secondary element ( 27) being interconnected by articulation means (18) to allow the main body (25) to move between a relative folded configuration of the primary (26) and secondary (27) elements and a relative deployed configuration of the primary elements (26) and secondary (27), and vice versa.

16. Apparatus (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein, in said relative deployed configuration of the primary (26) and secondary (27) elements, said main body (25) forms a substantially annular, or at least partially annular, portable body. around the user's neck.

17. Apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 15 and 16, wherein said main body (25) comprises said housing (5), the primary element (26) of the main body (25) preferably comprising said housing ( 5).

18. Apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein the primary element (26) forms a front element of the main body (25) of the apparatus (1), the secondary element (27 ) forming a rear element of said main body (25).