Air purifying apparatus and method

[0002] This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of co-pending provisional application Ser. No. 60/113,024, filed Dec. 21, 1998, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

[0003] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

[0004] Not applicable.

[0005] Not applicable.

[0006] 1. Field of the Invention

[0007] The present invention relates, generally, to air cleaning apparatus and method. More particularly, the invention relates to an apparatus and method for purifying and cleaning air in a building or dwelling. The invention has particular utility in purifying air in homes and small buildings which utilize a forced air heating and/or cooling system.

[0008] 2. Background Information

[0009] The state of the art includes various devices and methods for purifying air in a building or dwelling.

[0010] Prior art devices and methods are believed to have significant limitations and shortcomings.

[0011] The present invention provides an air purification apparatus and method which are believed to constitute an improvement over the prior art.

[0012] Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is germicidal, that is, it kills microorganisms, including both bacteria and viruses. Microorganisms can cause disease or act as allergens. The apparatus of this invention generates high frequency UV-c radiation and directs it to a predetermined location in a standard forced air building heating, ventilating and/or air conditioning system (HVAC), whereby microorganisms are killed and the air is therefore cleaned.

[0013] Ozone is a naturally occurring substance which cleans air and removes odors from air. Ozone in combination with UV radiation destroys microorganisms which are not killed by the UV radiation. The apparatus of this invention generates ozone in a safe and balanced concentration of 0.2-0.3 parts per million. This is effective to clean the air put through a standard forced air building heating, ventilating and/or air conditioning system. Ozone also destroys odors without simply masking them.

[0014] The present invention provides an apparatus and method for purifying air which comprises a UV germicidal lamp, an ozone generator, an air flow sensor, a control system, a status display system, a coupling system to connect the apparatus to an HVAC system, and a power system.

[0015] The features, benefits and objects of this invention will become clear to those skilled in the art by reference to the following description, claims, and drawings.

[0016] FIG. 1 is a crossectional view of a building heating system with the air purifying apparatus of the present invention operatively disposed therein.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the heating system with the air purifying apparatus in position for attachment.

[0018] FIG. 3 is a schematic of the circuitry of the air purifying apparatus.

[0019] FIG. 4 is perspective view of the air purifying apparatus.

[0020] FIG. 5 is another perspective view of the air purifying apparatus, taken, generally, from the opposite end with respect to FIG. 4.

[0021] FIG. 6 is a side view of the air purifying apparatus.

[0022] FIG. 7 is an opposing side view of the air purifying apparatus.

[0023] FIG. 8 is another perspective view of the air purifying apparatus.

[0024] Referring to FIGS. 1-8, an example of the preferred embodiment of the air purifying apparatus of the present invention is illustrated.

[0025] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the apparatus and method of the present invention are suitable for use in the HVAC system of a building or dwelling such as a home or small commercial building. The apparatus and method cleans, purifies and deodorizes air in the building or dwelling. The apparatus 10 is disposed on an HVAC system 11. The system is installed via the following procedure:

[0026] 1. Locate the cold air return duct entering the HVAC system or central furnace.

[0027] 2. Center and tape a mounting template or equivalent structure on the cold air return duct approximately at least six (6) inches away from the furnace filter 12, which is the preferred area to be exposed to germicidal UV radiation.

[0028] 3. Drill or cut a 3 inch diameter hole 13 in the duct. The hole must be wide enough to accept the lamp elements 14 and 15. The lamp element should not contact any portion of the duct.

[0029] 4. Mount the lamp elements across the duct to occupy the largest area inside the duct. Remove the template, if used, and insert the lamp elements into the hole, making sure that the flow sensor is properly positioned. No screws or fasteners are needed due to the system magnets.

[0030] 5. Plug the power cord 16 into a common 110V outlet 25.

[0031] Referring also to FIGS. 3-8, the air purifying apparatus; comprises the following basic components: a UV germicidal lamp 14, an ozone generator lamp 15, an air flow sensor 16, each of the above preferably being coupled to a support structure 22, control system circuitry 17 communicatively connected to each of the components above and being disposed in a housing 18, a status display system 19 connected to the control system 17, coupling magnets 20 a and b disposed on the housing to connect the apparatus to an HVAC system, and a power cord 21 connected to the control system. The housing preferably has a sealing collar 23 disposed about the base of the lamps to seal any gap in the HVAC hole and the apparatus.

[0032] The device has the following activation states which are indicated by a status display system as follows:

[0033] 1. Red Light: Power On

[0034] 2. Green Light:

[0035] Blinking: Indicates stand by/system check condition. No air flow is detected. Unit is in an operational ready state.

[0036] Solid: Unit detects air flow and senses that an HVAC central fan has been activated. Lamp elements will light within approximately 30-60 seconds

[0037] 3. Amber Lights: Two, one for each lamp element. As a safety feature, the indicator lights will blink rapidly prior to each activation of the apparatus. When lamp elements are activated, both indicator lights are brightly lit.

[0038] The descriptions above and the accompanying materials should be interpreted in the illustrative and not the limited sense. While the invention has been disclosed in connection with the preferred embodiment or embodiments thereof, it should be understood that there may be other embodiments which fall within the scope of the invention.