U.S. patent application number 12/647034 was filed with the patent office on 2011-06-30 for air smoke refresher.
This patent application is currently assigned to UNIVERSITY OF KUWAIT. Invention is credited to Sadeq Ahmed Al-Qassem.
Application Number | 20110155150 12/647034 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44185949 |
Filed Date | 2011-06-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110155150 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Al-Qassem; Sadeq Ahmed |
June 30, 2011 |
Air Smoke Refresher
Abstract
The current invention is an apparatus to clean air around a
smoke. It is made of a case with air inlets which work with input
fans. The air flows through a lime water filter, a silica gel
filter and cellulose cotton. The air also flows by an aromatic
before going through an air outlet. The apparatus has a power
source and an on/off switch connected to the fans. The apparatus
can be power by numerous power sources and can be taken with the
smoker if desired.
Inventors: |
Al-Qassem; Sadeq Ahmed;
(Safat, KW) |
Assignee: |
UNIVERSITY OF KUWAIT
Safat
KW
|
Family ID: |
44185949 |
Appl. No.: |
12/647034 |
Filed: |
December 24, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
131/238 ;
131/329 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B01D 2253/106 20130101;
B01D 53/78 20130101; A61L 2209/14 20130101; B01D 2259/4508
20130101; B01D 53/75 20130101; F24F 8/97 20210101; A61L 9/122
20130101; B01D 53/04 20130101; A61L 9/16 20130101; B01D 2251/404
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
131/238 ;
131/329 |
International
Class: |
A24F 19/10 20060101
A24F019/10; A24F 47/00 20060101 A24F047/00 |
Claims
1. An apparatus to clean air comprising: a case with a plurality of
air inlets with a plurality of input fans at said air inlets where
the air flows through a lime water filter, a silica gel filter and
cellulose cotton with the air flowing by an aromatic and then out
through an air outlet.
2. The apparatus as described in claim 1, further comprising having
an air inlet by an ash tray.
3. The apparatus as described in claim 1, further comprising having
an air inlet by a smoker's mouth.
4. The apparatus as described in claim 1, further comprising having
an outlet fan by the air outlet to push the air out of the
case.
5. The apparatus as described in claim 1, further comprising having
an aromatic fan push the air by the aromatic.
6. The apparatus as described in claim 1, further comprising having
power source connected to said fans.
7. The apparatus as described in claim 6, further comprising having
said power source being a USB slot.
8. The apparatus as described in claim 6, further comprising having
said power source being a battery.
9. The apparatus as described in claim 6, further comprising having
said power source being a direct connection.
10. The apparatus as described in claim 1, further comprising
having said fans being turned on and off through an on/off
switch.
11. The apparatus as described in claim 1, further comprising
having said fans being connected to power source and an on/off
switch and being turned on and off through an on/off switch.
12. The apparatus as described in claim 1, further comprising
having said case having an overhang extend out to form an ash tray
area which serves to hold the smoke from the ashtray so that in can
be sucked in by an input fan.
13. The apparatus as described in claim 1, further comprising
having said case having a smoke input chamber which holds the
plurality of input fans
14. The apparatus as described in claim 1, further comprising
having said case having a filter chamber which contains the
internal fan which sucks the air from the input fans and passes it
to through the filters.
15. The apparatus as described in claim 1, further comprising
having said case having an aromatic chamber contains the aromatic,
the aromatic fan, the outlet fan and the air outlet.
16. The apparatus as described in claim 1, further comprising
having said case rectangular in shape.
17. An apparatus to clean air comprising: a case with a plurality
of air inlets with a plurality of input fans at said air inlets
where the air flows through a lime water filter, a silica gel
filter and cellulose cotton with the air flowing by an aromatic and
then through an air outlet, having a power source and an on/off
switch connected to said fans, having said case having an overhang
extend out to form an ash tray area which serves to hold the smoke
from the ashtray so that in can be sucked in by the upper fan,
having a smoke input chamber which holds the plurality of two input
fans, having a filter chamber which contains the internal fan which
sucks the air from the input fans and passes it to through the
filters and having an aromatic chamber contains the aromatic, the
aromatic fan, the outlet fan and the air outlet.
18. The apparatus as described in claim 17, further comprising
having said power source being a USB slot.
19. The apparatus as described in claim 17, further comprising
having said power source being a battery.
20. The apparatus as described in claim 17, further comprising
having the air flow from the input chamber to the filter chamber to
the aromatic chamber to outside.
Description
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an Air Refresher and in
more particular one the works with the refreshing air from smoke
from cigarette, pipe and cigar smoking.
[0003] 2. Description of Prior Art
[0004] The dangers of second hand smoke are well known. There needs
to be a way to keep the air surrounding a person clean especially
those who are sitting beside a smoker. This can be in an office,
home of any other enclosed space in order to protect them against
the damages of passive smoking, There is a lack of a number of
devices and methods to assist someone in this way in prior art.
PRIOR ART
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 4,671,300 by Grube, et al. and issued on Jun.
9, 1987, is for an ashtray for eliminating emitted smoke is
disclosed. The ashtray defines, within its housing, a
predetermined, fixed filter region. An air filter is positioned
within and confined by the filter region to ensure that
substantially all air passes through the filter medium of the air
filter.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 4,732,591 by Tujisawa, et al. and issued on
Mar. 22, 1988, is for an air-cleaning apparatus presenting an
appearance of a flowerpot comprises: a hollow container provided
with a ventilating hole in its lower portion and an opening in its
upper portion; a fan disposed inside the container; driving means
for driving the fan; an air-cleaning filter disposed above the
ventilating hole; an air-permeable supporting plate disposed above
the fan and the filter; and a natural and/or imitation garden plant
mounted on the supporting plate, which plant is covered at its root
with an air-permeable filter.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 4,996,995 by Kojima and issued on Mar. 5,
1991, is for an ashtray which has a main body including a tray for
receiving ashes and a housing having an opening facing upwardly for
housing the tray therein, a lid member for covering the opening of
the housing therewith, a hinge assembly for rotatably connecting
the lid member to the main body, an air cleaning means disposed at
the lid member for removing impurities from the air, the air
cleaning means including a fan for exhausting the air, a drive
means for driving the fan and an air cleaner for removing
impurities from the air and a light means for lighting the main
body and the lid member. The ashtray can be used in a
dimly-lit-place as well as in a well-lit place, and is able to
clean the air by removing impurities, including smoke emitted from
cigarettes or other smoking materials.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,141,539 by Hiouani and issued on Aug. 25,
1992, is for an apparatus to direct cigarette smoke and the like in
an ambient environment relative to a filter housing includes a
base, with the base mounting a support plate to an upper distal end
of an adjustable tube adjustably mounted within the base. A filter
housing is mounted to the plate to include a fan organization to
direct ambient air through the filter, with a surrounding truncated
conical shield oriented about the filter housing to effect
directing of smoke and the like to the filter.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,259,400 by Bruno, et al. and issued on Nov.
9, 1993, is for an ashtray that has a base with a lid hinged
thereto. A filter is in the lid in order to accommodate an easy
filter replacement. An air duct in the lid enables a fan in the
base to draw smoke through the filter and out the base. The fan is
operated in response to raising the lid to an upright position. The
intake to the air duct is far enough from debris in the ashtray to
preclude drawing the debris into the air duct. The lid tends to
seal in odors when it is closed. An area in the base may also
receive a filter in order to provide a compatibility with
preexisting filters.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,325,876 by Yang and issued on Jul. 5, 1994,
is for an ash tray that includes a device for filtering the
nicotine in the cigarette smoke and for changing the cigarette
smoke into a harmless gas. The device includes a catalytic
exchanger, an ozone generator, a fan, a transformer and a filter
enclosed within an enclosure including a base plate and a
bowl-shaped cover member.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 5,542,438 by Adams, et al. and issued on Aug.
6, 1996, is for a smokeless ashtray system includes a vacuum
manifold connecting a plurality of ashtrays to a charcoal filter
and a vacuum blower/motor assembly. The vacuum manifold includes
spiral wound metal flexible metal tubing segments secured to
connectors by heat shrink tubing. L connectors connect end most
ashtray locations to the manifold, T connectors connect
intermediate ashtray locations, and a four-way connector connects a
central ashtray location to the manifold and to the charcoal filter
and blower/motor assembly. Each ashtray location includes a flue
member having a first end threaded into the associated connector
and a second end inserted within a recess formed centrally in a
bottom surface of a cup-shaped ashtray. A connector mounting
bracket includes locating apertures engaging alignment pins
extending from a flat upper surface of the connector, and a flange
on the flue member clamps the bracket to the connector. Screws
secure mounting flanges of the bracket to the underside of a table
or other mounting surface. A central chimney in the ashtray
includes a shield dome covering an open top end to prevent ashes
and other debris from entering the air flow path. A replaceable
disposable coalescing filter element in the flue member filters
smoke prior to passage into the manifold, thus substantially
reducing tar fouling of the system. A control box includes an
on/off switch, a power on LED, and a service needed LED activated
by monitoring load on the motor to indicate filter clogging.
[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 5,562,286 by Brinket and issued on Oct. 8,
1996, is for a smoke-eliminating device of simple construction
which can easily be installed onto a preexisting casino gaming
table. The fan for circulating air during the purification process
is located beneath the gaming table to thereby reduce noise and
increase the amount of usable area surrounding the gaming device.
The smoke-eliminating device of the present invention is placed
between the outer edge of the gaming table and a padded rim above
this outer edge. Spaces are placed between the padded rim and the
outer edge of the gaming table, to thereby vertically raise the
padded edge. The space created between the padded rim and the
gaming table is filled with intake vents and the spacers. An air
circulator and purifying device is located beneath the table and
conduit connects the intake vents to the air circulator and
purifying device. The intake vents thus remove cigarette smoke from
near the gaming table, purify the air, and release the purified air
beneath the gaming table.
[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 5,591,242 by Kuo and issued on Jan. 7, 1997,
is for a smoke processor including a housing having a recess, an
exhaust fan arranged with the housing, a filter mounted within the
housing and located above the exhaust fan, a smoke processing
container fitted in the recess of the housing, a flexible pipe
connecting the smoke processing container with the filter, a
cigarette lighter mounted in the smoke processing container, a
linking rod having an upper end pivotally connected with the smoke
processing container, a rotating disc rotatably connected with a
lower end of the linking rod, and a fixed disc engaged with the
rotating disc and mounted within the housing, whereby the smoke
exhaled by the smoker can be effectively purified thus preventing
air pollution.
[0014] U.S. Pat. No. 5,601,636 by Glucksman and issued on Feb. 11,
1997, is for an air cleaner assembly for ionizing and filtering air
is supported by an electrical receptacle mounted in a wall. A
housing supports an enclosed filter and a fan forces air into the
housing, wherein the air is filtered and ionized. The filtered and
ionized air is forced out of the housing through a grill mounted
within the housing. A plug connected to the housing is mateable
with the wall mounted electrical receptacle to provide power to the
fan and to force air into the housing, through the filter, past the
ionizer and out through the outlet grill.
[0015] U.S. Pat. No. 6,116,246 by Glenn, et al. and issued on Sep.
12, 2000, is for a smokeless ashtray includes an ashtray that is
formed with an ash receiving cavity and air passageway. The ashtray
is supported by a housing having an upper portion which forms an
air intake substantially adjacent to the ash receiving cavity, and
a bottom portion which removably receives the ashtray. The bottom
portion also includes a motor filter receiving space and is formed
with an exhaust aperture. A motor is mounted within the motor
filter receiving space with a fan being connected thereto such that
the fan is located below the ashtray. The smokeless ashtray also
includes an ashtray filter and/or a motor filter. The air
passageway of the ashtray is configured to receive the ashtray
filter while the motor filter receiving space within bottom portion
of the housing is configured to receive the motor filter. The fan
creates an air flow by drawing smoke-filled air into the air intake
down through the air passageway and out through the exhaust
aperture with at least one of the ashtray filter and the motor
filter being located within the air flow to remove smoke and
impurities therefrom.
[0016] U.S. Pat. No. 6,156,088 by Cardarelli and issued on Dec. 5,
2000, is for a smoke and odor purifying system which can be
incorporated within a housing that can serve both as a table
centerpiece and an ashtray. The system having an esthetically
pleasing flower vase construction with petal shaped appendages for
resting of cigarettes or the like. A floral arrangement is made up
of individual artificial flowers. Each flower having an opening in
the bud for drawing in smoke-filled air and passing it through the
system. Also defined within the petals of the housing are a
plurality of intake openings through which cigarette smoke, as well
as secondary smoke from the surrounding area may be drawn
downwardly through the device. An electrically or battery powered
fan means, positioned below a filtration and odor-treatment system,
drives the smoke through the system which includes an electrostatic
prefiltering bed followed by an activated charcoal bed, an H.E.P.A.
filter and finally another activated charcoal bed containing an air
freshening material. Refreshed and smoke free air is returned to
the surrounding atmosphere through a plurality of exhaust vents
located at the bottom of the housing.
[0017] U.S. Pat. No. 6,328,791 by Pillion, et al. Dec. 11, 2001, is
for an air filtration device for intake of atmospheric air, removal
of contaminants from the atmospheric air, expulsion of filtered
air, includes a housing configured for application directly to an
electrical outlet and provides air intake from the front surface of
the housing and air expulsion from the side of the housing to
utilize a wall surface to disperse the filtered air. An indicator
is provided to communicate that a filter should be changed, and a
filter orientation system is provided to allow proper orientation
of the filter with respect to air flow.
[0018] U.S. Pat. No. 6,350,302 by Hallstead, Sr. and issued on Feb.
26, 2002, is for an air filtration system for filtering smoke from
the air. The system includes a filter tank for holding a volume of
water. A bulkhead wall therein divides the filter tank into first
and second compartments and has a hole there through to permit
passage of water between the first and second compartments of the
filter tank. A mesh screen substantially covers the hole of the
bulkhead. An air intake conduit is fluidly connected to the first
compartment of the filter tank for drawing unfiltered air and
debris into the filter tank from a location such as a room. A water
supply conduit is fluidly connected to the filter tank for
supplying water to the filter tank. A vacuum device is provided for
drawing air out of the filter tank. The vacuum device has an intake
fluidly connected to the second compartment of the filter tank for
drawing air from the filter tank into the vacuum device. The vacuum
device has a first return conduit for receiving air drawn into the
vacuum device through the intake of the vacuum device. A holding
tank is provided for holding water therein. A main drain conduit
fluidly connects the filter tank to the holding tank. A sewer drain
conduit is fluidly connected to the holding tank to permit passage
of water out of the holding tank. A stopper assembly is provided
for selectively opening and closing the main drain conduit.
[0019] U.S. Pat. No. 6,361,590 by Gilbert, Jr., et al. and issued
on Mar. 26, 2002, is for a portable air cleaner including a housing
defining an air inlet, an air outlet, and an air flow path
therebetween, a centrifugal blower retained within the air flow
path and operable to draw air through the inlet and a filter
retained within the housing and disposed to transmit air
circulating in the air flow path out of the outlet. Also included
is a conveyor surrounding the blower and defining a scroll shaped
passage having one end disposed to receive air from the blower and
an opposite end disposed to discharge air into the filter, the
conveyor being shaped and arranged to obstruct all rectilinear
paths between the blower and the opposite end.
[0020] U.S. Pat. No. 7,025,798 by Endo and issued on Apr. 11, 2006,
is for a personal tabletop-type air cleaner is provided which is
user-friendly and can improve smoke sucking efficiency in a simple
configuration. The disclosed personal tabletop-type air cleaner has
a front opening portion to suck air containing smoke of a
cigarette, a blower to forcedly feed air having been sucked into
the front opening portions in a centrifugal manner, a pair of right
and left peripheral opening portions each being placed in a fringe
portion on the right and the left at a front of the air cleaner and
forming an air curtain by emitting air fed forcedly from the blower
ahead of the front of the air cleaner, a dust collecting filter
being placed between the front opening portion and the blower to
remove cigarette odor, and a deodorizing filter being placed
between the blower and each peripheral opening portion making up
the pair of right and left peripheral opening portions to remove
cigarette odor.
[0021] U.S. Pat. No. 7,302,954 by Shigematsu, et al. and issued on
Dec. 4, 2007, is for a system in which a constitutive element of a
tobacco (a leaf-tobacco component or a filter) is added a
proanthocyanidin or a proanthocyanidin-carrying porous material
(such as an active carbon) to obtain an element for tobacco smoke.
The proanthocyanidin may be at least one extract selected from a
grape seed or pip, a grape rind or pericarp and squeezed dregs of a
grape fruit.
[0022] U.S. Pat. RE36,106 by Bruno, et al. and issued on Feb. 23,
1999, is for an ashtray has a base with a lid hinged thereto. A
filter is in the lid in order to accommodate an easy filter
replacement. An air duct in the lid enables a fan in the base to
draw smoke through the filter and out the base. The fan is operated
in response to raising the lid to an upright position. The intake
to the air duct is far enough from debris in the ashtray to
preclude drawing the debris into the air duct. The lid tends to
seal in odors when it is closed. An area in the base may also
receive a filter in order to provide a compatibility with
preexisting filters.
[0023] There is still room for improvement in the art.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0024] The current invention is an apparatus that maintains the air
surrounding a person clean especially those who are sitting beside
a smoker. This can be in an office, home of any other enclosed
space in order to protect them against the damages of passive
smoking, The apparatus sucks the air of the smoker directly from
the smoker or from the ash tray. This helps to keep the air clean
and perfumed.
[0025] The system is more efficient, effective, accurate and
functional than the current art.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0026] Without restricting the full scope of this invention, the
preferred form of this invention is illustrated in the following
drawings:
[0027] FIG. 1 shows a cross section of the apparatus;
[0028] FIG. 2 displays a top front view of the apparatus; and
[0029] FIG. 3 displays a simple schematic of the device electronic;
and
[0030] FIG. 4 displays the layout of the apparatus.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0031] The following description is demonstrative in nature and is
not intended to limit the scope of the invention or its application
of uses.
[0032] There are a number of significant design features and
improvements incorporated within the invention.
[0033] As shown in FIG. 1, the current invention is an apparatus
that maintains the air surrounding a person clean especially those
who are sitting beside a smoker. This can be in an office, home of
any other enclosed space in order to protect them against the
damages of passive smoking. The apparatus sucks the air of the
smoker directly from the smoker or from the ash tray. This helps to
keep the air clean and perfumed.
[0034] The apparatus maintains the air surrounding the person clean
especially those whose are setting beside a smoker either in the
office, at home or any other closed place in order to protect them
against the damages of the passive smoking where it sucks the air
of the smoker directly or from an ash tray. This helps keep the air
clean and perfumed.
[0035] The device works on keeping the air clean and not polluted
and keeping the air free of pollution gas such as Carbon Monoxide
and Carbon dioxide which result from a burning cigarette or cigar,
protecting the family members or the employees sitting beside a
smoker, especially those with allergies, lung disease and chronic
asthma, keeping the air always clean and perfumed and it is small
so that it can be used in any closed place. And it can be operated
electrically.
[0036] FIG. 1 shows the workings of the apparatus. The apparatus is
contained in a case 5, which in the preferred embodiment is
rectangular in shape, but other shapes can be used.
[0037] The Air inlet 10 is next to the cigarette ash tray 35. There
is another air inlet 20 from the smoker's mouth directly or from
the polluted air. There is a lower fan 30 to suck the polluted air
or smoke. There is an upper fan 40 to suck the smoke from the ash
tray 35. There is an internal fan 50 to suck the air from the front
fans (30 and 40) and pass it to the filters. There Is a Lime water
filter 60 for the sedimentation of the nicotine and other
pollutants. There is a Silica Gel filter 70 to filter the
sedimentation of the harmful Carbon Monoxide and Carbon Dioxide.
There is Cellulose cotton 80 to filter the filter the air to ensure
cleaner air. There is a aromatic fan 90 to push the air though the
aromatic 100 to perfume the air. There is an outlet fan 110 to push
the air outside the apparatus after cleaning, filtering and making
the air aromatic through the outlet 120.
[0038] The aromatic 100 scents the output air with a desired scent
of the user. This can be a scented cake or any standard air
scenting device and/or means.
[0039] FIG. 2 shows the lower air inlet 15 which is near the
smoker's mouth or the polluted air as well as the air tray 35. It
also displays the upper air inlet 45 from the cigarette ash tray
35.
[0040] FIG. 3 shows a simple schematic of the fan circuitry. The
lower fan 30, the upper fan 40, the aromatic fan 95 and the outlet
fan 110 are connected to a power source 140 and are turned on and
off through a switch 145. The normal connection is through
electrical wiring 150. Any standard electrical switch can be used
including one connected to a wireless or sound sensor on/off
device.
[0041] Most smoke air cleaning apparatus are used as air refreshers
without filtering the air from the pollutants. Their functions is
limited in refreshing the air by using the aromatic material and
scents but the innovated apparatus considers this function of
refreshing the surrounding air as a partial function
[0042] The prior art devices available in the market are mostly
used to filter the air from the pollutants, bacteria and nasty
smells and most of them are operated by the battery (charged or the
normal) or directly by electricity but the new created apparatus
includes filters of different types for the sedimentation of
harmful materials (such as smoke of cigarette, burning papers, in
the office/bacteria/air pollutions/dust. etc. This is the essential
difference between it and those available in the market. It also
may be operated by more than one means as the power source 140 such
as batteries/electrically directly to a plug in a wall socket/USB
from PC or laptop or a cigarette lighter.
[0043] As shown in FIG. 1, the apparatus works through the section
of the air 200 thorough the ash tray or by the smoke coming from
the smoker directly. Transferring the polluted air 200 to the
filter which removes the Nicotine residue from among its components
or even if it was dust or any other pollutant. The passing of the
air through the silica gel and limewater and some pieces of coal is
used to collect the residue Carbon Monoxide and Carbon Dioxide.
After the passing of the air after being cleaned on a perfumed
material the air comes out perfumed and clean.
[0044] In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus 1 is in a
rectangular cabinet 5 which is wide enough to hold the ash tray 35
and to steadily stand upright. There is an overhang 240 over and
forming the ash tray area 235 which serves to hold the smoke from
the ashtray so that in can be sucked in by the upper fan 40. There
is the smoke input chamber 250 which holds the two input fans which
in the preferred embodiment is in a "Z" shape. There is the filter
chamber 260 which contains the internal fan 50 to suck the air from
the front fans (30 and 40) and pass it to the filters and contains
the lime water filter 60, the Silica Gel filter and the cellulose
cotton 80. The filter chamber 260 is a vertical rectangle. The
aromatic chamber 270 contains the aromatic 100, the aromatic fan 95
and the outlet fan 110. It is rectangular in shape the runs
vertically in the back of the device. The air flows from the input
chamber 250 to the filter chamber 260 to the aromatic chamber
270.
[0045] The filters and aromatic 100 will be able to be removed and
replaced or cleaned in the preferred embodiment.
ADVANTAGES
[0046] The apparatus is light in weight and filters maybe easily
replaced or cleaned after use. Since it is small in size to be
carried from place to place or may be put anywhere and it maybe
used in more than one place such as house, a vehicle or office.
[0047] Although the present invention has been described in
considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions
thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the point and
scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the
description of the preferred versions contained herein.
[0048] As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and
operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent
from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion
relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.
With respect to the above description, it is to be realized that
the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the
invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form,
function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed
readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all
equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and
described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by
the present invention.
[0049] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only
of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous
modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in
the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact
construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly,
all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to,
falling within the scope of the invention.
* * * * *