WO2005087320A1

WO2005087320A1 - A personal air filter and ionizing system

Info

Publication number: WO2005087320A1
Application number: PCT/IB2005/050688
Authority: WO
Inventors: George Marmaropoulos
Original assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V.
Priority date: 2004-03-02
Filing date: 2005-02-24
Publication date: 2005-09-22
Also published as: CN1925889A; KR20070003900A; EP1725306A1

Abstract

There is provided a personal air filter and/or ionizer (1) and/or ionizer operatively integrated into a wearable garment (60). The air filter and/or ionizer (1) preferably has one or more conductive layers (10) that are preferably operatively connected to one or more breathable layers (20) of breathable material or fabric, and one or more filters (30). In addition, air filter and/or ionizer (1) can operatively cooperate with one or more motion sensors (40) and/or environmental sensors (50). The air filter and/or ionizer (1) can be operatively connected to and/or integrated in a wearable garment (60), such as polo-neck shirt.

Description

A PERSONAL AIR FILTER AND IONIZING SYSTEM

The present invention relates to air filters. More particularly, the present invention relates to a personal air filter and ionizing system.

Odors, dust, bacteria, smoke and/or other airborne contaminants are known to cause health problems. For example, bioaerosols, which include the tiny spores from molds and other fungi that float through the air, can cause irritation to skin and mucous membranes, and coughing. Such allergic reactions may also be induced by dust, pollen and endotoxins that circulate throughout the air. Sensitive people — such as the elderly, the young and/or those with weak immune systems can be at risk of serious infection.

Nearly everything of an organic nature releases particles or microscopic bits of solid or liquid matter that can stay airborne for long periods of time. The smallest of these are known as respirable particles. These particles are typically less than 10 microns in diameter (the diameter of a human hair is about 100 microns). In humans, larger particles are usually caught in the nose, which captures them before they can reach the lungs. Because of their minute size, however, respirable particles flow easily through the nasal passage and can be inhaled deeply into the lungs to cause coughing, wheezing and even respiratory tract infection.

Synthetic organic chemicals or Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) derived from cleaning products, paints, glues, building materials, consumer products and/or combustion sources such as car engines and heating systems are everywhere and can be toxic (e.g., benzene or carbon tetracycline). Others, although not all are so seriously harmful, can cause discomfort (e.g., formaldehyde) exist in a variety of everyday products, including certain floor adhesives, wall coverings, particleboard and furniture. Carbon Monoxide (CO) is another common pollutant found in cigarette smoke, and produced by fuel burning engines such as those in cars. Prolonged exposure to CO decreases the oxygen-carrying capacity of a person's blood, resulting in shortness of breath, fatigue and nausea. Given the foregoing, as well as the recent threat of chemical and/or biological terrorist activity, it seems that the ready availability of a personal air filter could prove helpful especially when it is for occasional and not prolonged use. It is significant in providing such a filter that, apart from the effectiveness thereof, the appearance be aesthetically pleasing, as this can have a substantial influence on an individual's willingness to effectively use such a device.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a personal air filter that is operatively associated with a wearable garment.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a personal air ionizer that is operatively associated with a wearable garment.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an air filter and/or ionizer that is in a wearable garment and that is selectively automatically activated.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an air filter and/or ionizer that is in a wearable garment that is selectively manually activated.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide an air filter and/or ionizer that is operatively connected to one or more environmental sensors.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are achieved by a personal air filter and/or ionizer operatively integrated into a wearable garment. The air filter has one or more conductive layers that are preferably operatively connected to one or more layers of breathable material, one or more removable air filter layers and/or one or more environmental sensors. The garment is preferably formed of the breathable material, or alternatively, of a suitably compatible material.

The present invention is more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment in combination with the drawings identified below.

Fig. 1 is a schematic side section view of an air filter and/or ionizer in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the air filter and/or ionizer of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3 is a schematic of a garment in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, showing the air filter and/or ionizer of Fig. 1 in a first inoperative state; and Fig. 4 is a schematic of a garment in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, showing the air filter and/or ionizer of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings and in particular, Fig. 1, there is shown an air filter and/or ionizer in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention generally represented by reference numeral 1. Air filter and/or ionizer 1 preferably has one or more conductive layers 10 that are preferably operatively connected to one or more layers of breathable fabric 20, and one or more filters 30. In addition, air filter and/or ionizer 1 can operatively cooperate with one or more motion sensors 40 and/or environmental sensors 50. The air filter and/or ionizer can be operatively connected to and/or integrated in a wearable garment 60, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Referring to Fig. 2, as shown, in a preferred aspect of the present invention conductive layers 10 take the form of a conductive fiber mesh or web with conductive fibers 12 intertwined using any known conventional method for weaving, sewing and/or knitting. Each conductive fiber 12 can have a high tensile strength, a weight and a consistency sufficient to provide a high degree of durable flexibility during manufacture and wear (e.g., flexible, resilient, corrosion resistant, etc.). Conductive fibers 12 and/or conductive layers 10 can be directly electrically connected to a power source 14 (e.g., battery). Alternatively, a separate connector 16, such as, for example, a conductive wire, may be used to indirectly electrically connect conductive fibers 12 and/or conductive layers 10 to power source 14. Connector 16 can have any configuration suitable to provide the means or way for this electrical communication. Conductive fibers 12 may also have any of a variety of different shapes, sizes and/or configurations appropriate for different adaptations to accommodate different uses. For example, conductive fibers 12 can be made with stainless steel, silver or similar metal suitable to cooperate with the power source and/or an electronic circuit which allows for the ionization of air that passes through the conductive layers 10. Preferably, conductive fibers 12 can be sewn, woven, or knitted using conventional methods into a multitude of different patterns in order to facilitate a variety of different applications in use. Conductive fibers 12 can preferably have different conductivities and be made of any suitable conductive material, including for example, a metalized foil, a conductive polymer, or a graphitized or metalized fiber or yarn.

It is noted that conductive layers 10 can also take any of a variety of other forms appropriate to accomplish the stated objects of the present invents. For example, conductive layers 10 can take the form of a synthetic, preferably non-woven, perforated conductive material.

In another aspect of the present invention, the one or more layers of breathable fabric 20 can be made of any of a variety of materials that are suitable for use in wearable garments (e.g., cotton, polyester, lycra, silk, nylon, etc.). The one or more layers of breathable fabric 20 may form an integral part of the garment 60 or, alternatively, can be selectively connected thereto. The one or more layers of breathable fabric 20 can be natural and/or synthetic and suitable to be sewn, woven, or knitted using conventional methods into a multitude of different patterns in order to facilitate a variety of different applications in use, functional and/or aesthetic.

In another preferred aspect of the present invention, the one or more filters 30 can, but need not, be removable and/or replaceable with respect to the air filter and/or ionizer 1. For example, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the garment 60 to which the air filter and/or ionizer 1 is operatively associated, can have one or more sleeves or pockets 62 that can accommodate the filters 30. These pockets 62 can be integral with the garment 60 and/or separably connected thereto. Alternatively, filters 30 may be separably attached directly to a surface 22 of the one or more layers of breathable fabric 20. The one or more filters 30 can have any of a variety of forms suitable to be discretely and operatively connected with the garment 60. Filters 30 can be made of natural or synthetic, and/or coarse or fine fiber media capable of incorporating electrostatic attraction. The fine fiber media preferably has fibers that are extruded to a smaller fiber diameter to incorporate the filtration principle of diffusion. Preferably, both coarse and fine media operate to strain particles from the air.

The filters 30 can also have filtering agents, such as for example, a moist filtering layer (e.g., a gel) that can aid in trapping water soluble gases and particulates. This moist layer can preferably be odorless and tasteless, such as for example an all-natural plant extract, with an increased viscosity for enhanced breathability. Other filtering agents may additionally and/or alternatively be used. For example, an antibacterial agent can be added to the moist filtering layer to improve freshness. The filters 30 can have any of a variety of different weaves and be made of any of a variety of materials (e.g., fabric, paper etc.) to improve breathing and to comfortably fit the face of the user. For example, filter 30 can be N95 rated or better and have integral or separate adjusting features such as inherent elastomeric properties, a nose clip, and/or a draw strap, for example. "N95" is a government efficiency rating that means the filter blocks about 95% of particles that are 0.3 microns in size or larger.

Having described some of the preferred aspects of the present invention, it is appreciated that details may be modified in a variety of ways and that alternative embodiments are also within the scope of the present invention. For example, referring to Fig. 3, as previously stated, one or more motion sensors 40 and/or environmental sensors 50 can cooperate with the air filter and/or ionizer 1 to optimize the effective use thereof. Sensors 40, 50 preferably either directly or indirectly, via a microcontroller or the like, activates and/or deactivates the air filter and/or ionizer 1.

For example, motions sensors 40 can be associated with the air filter and/or ionizer 1 so that when a portion of garment 60, for example, such as a collar or neck 64 is in a first position, such as is shown in Fig. 3, for example, the air filter and/or ionizer 1 is preferably deactivated or inoperative, and when the neck 64 is adjusted or moved to a second position, such as is shown in Fig. 4, for example, the motion sensors 40 can detect the change and directly or indirectly activate the air filter and/or ionizer 1 to operate. Additionally or alternatively, one or more environmental sensors 50 can be provided to detect changes in the environment and either directly or indirectly indicate to the user a need to activate the air filter and/or ionizer 1. It is noted that the air filter and/or ionizer 1 may be manually and/or automatically activated at any time as desired. For example, garment 60 may have a control interface 66 for providing a person more control flexibility.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, in operative use, it is preferable that the air filter and/or ionizer 1 be fashionable and discrete. For example, garment 60 is illustratively shown in the form of a polo-neck shirt and the air filter and/or ionizer 1 is illustratively shown as being integral with neck 64 thereof. The present invention having been thus described with particular reference to the illustrated embodiments thereof, it will be obvious that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the present invention as defined herein.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A personal air filter and/or ionizer (1 ) comprising: one or more conductive layers (10); one or more breathable layers (20); and one or more air filters (30).

2. The personal air filter and/or ionizer (1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the personal air filter and/or ionizer (1) is incorporated into a wearable garment (60).

3. The personal air filter and/or ionizer (1 ) of claim 1 , wherein said one or more breathable layers (20) are directly operatively attached to said one or more conductive layers (10).

4. The personal air filter and/or ionizer (1 ) of claim 1 , wherein said one or more conductive layers (10) are in the form of a conductive fiber web.

5. The personal air filter and/or ionizer (1 ) of claim 4, wherein said conductive fiber web is made of a flexible, resilient corrosion resistant material.

6. The personal air filter and/or ionizer (1) of claim 4, wherein said conductive fiber web is made of stainless steel and/or silver.

7. The personal air filter and/or ionizer (1 ) of claim 1 , wherein said one or more conductive layers (10) are operatively connected to a power source (14).

8. The personal air filter and/or ionizer (1 ) of claim 1 , wherein said one or more air filters (30) are cleanable and/or replaceable.

9. The personal air filter and/or ionizer (1 ) of claim 1 , wherein said one or more air filters (30) are conductive to collect all charged particles passing said one or more conductive layers (10).

10. The personal air filter and/or ionizer (1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the personal air filter and/or ionizer (1) operates in a variety of different states.

11. The personal air filter and/or ionizer (1 ) of claim 1 , wherein said variety of different operating states include at least an inactive state and an active state.

12. The personal air filter and/or ionizer (1 ) of claim 11 , wherein the personal air filter and/or ionizer (1) is automatically activated in said active state and/or automatically deactivated in said inactive state.

13. The personal air filter and/or ionizer (1 ) of claim 11 , wherein the personal air filter and/or ionizer (1 ) is manually activated via a user interaction.

14. The personal air filter and/or ionizer (1 ) of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor (40, 50) and/or a switch for controlling the activation of the filter.

15. The personal air filter and/or ionizer (1) of claim 14, wherein said sensor (40, 50) and/or said switch activate the air filter and/or ionizer (1) when in an operative state and deactivate the air filter and/or ionizer (1) when in an inoperative state.

16. The personal air filter and/or ionizer (1 ) of claim 2, wherein said garment (60) has a collar (64) suitable for accommodating the air filter and/or ionizer (1).

17. The personal air filter and/or ionizer (1 ) of claim 2, wherein said garment (60) is selected from a group consisting of a polo-neck shirt, a collared shirt, a sweatband, a ski-mask, or other like garment (60) suitable to be, at least in part, selectively pulled over the mouth and/or nose of a wearer.

18. The personal air filter and/or ionizer (1 ) of claim 1 , wherein said one or more conductive layers (10) form an appropriate electronic circuit for ionizing air passing therethrough.

19. A garment (60) with a personalized air filter comprising: two or more breathable layers (20); a conductive ionizing web (10) between said two or more breathable layers (20) and operatively connected to a power source (14); and a removable and/or replaceable collecting layer (30) for collecting charged pollutants.

20. A garment (60) with a personalized ionizing system comprising: two or more breathable layers (20); one or more ionizing layers (10) between said two or more breathable layers (20) and operatively connected to a power source (14); one or more conductive collecting layers (30) proximate said one or more ionizing layers (10) between said breathable layers (20) and operatively connected to said power source (14).