Apparatuses for ventilating and deodorizing air

Abstract

To accomplish the task of removing foul air, the malodor ventilation apparatus has attachment members such as suction cups or a hook for easy installation in different locations. The apparatus has an inlet port for the intake of objectionable air and an outlet port to expel scented refreshed air. Air is drawn into the inlet port by a motorized fan that creates a pressure differential. The objectionable air is drawn through a porous filter. The porous filter is scented by several drops of a liquid scent. This scent is volatized into the malodorous air, changing the air into a pleasing aroma. The scented air is expelled and dissipated through an outlet port of the apparatus. Alternately, the apparatus can comprise a vent duct coupled to exhaust air from the outlet port.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This patent application claims priority under Title 35, United States Code Section 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 299,281 filed on Jun. 6, 2001, and Nonprovisional patent application Ser. No. 10 / 112,428, filed Mar. 29, 2002, which are incorporated in their entireties by reference and made a part hereof.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Technical Field [0003] The invention relates generally to the field of odor ventilation and, more particularly, to venting and scenting malodorous air to render it inoffensive to the human sense of smell. [0004] 2. Background Art [0005] The need for removal of offensive odors has long been recognized. Consequently, many forced air ventilation devices that filter noxious odors have been developed. However, these devices have been subject to various disadvantages. Such devices are typically inefficient in operation, unsightly in appearance, and / or costly to manufacture. In addition...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] An apparatus according to a first aspect of the invention functions to dissipate malodorous air. The apparatus comprises a casing, an element for removably attaching the casing to an object, a motorized fan, a conduit, an intake member, and an element for removably attaching the intake member to the object. The casing defines an inlet port and an outlet port. The motorized fan creates a partial vacuum or pressure differential that draws the air into the inlet port and exhausts the air from the outlet port. The conduit has a first end coupled to the casing's inlet port, and the intake member coupled to a second end of the conduit. The apparatus can further comprise an energy source coupled to the motorized fan. The energy source can be a battery and/or a transformer and electrical extension cord coupled to a wall outlet, for example. The motorized fan can be adaptable to selectively receive power from a battery housed within the casing or a wall outlet. In addition, the apparatus can comprise a timed duration control unit coupled to the motorized fan, that is controllable to activate the motorized fan for a period of time. The apparatus can comprise a switch coupled to the timed duration control unit, for activating the timed duration control unit to operate the motorized fan. The switch can comprise a motion or heat sensor that activates the timed duration control unit to operate the motorized fan, based on movement or heat of a person's body in proximity to the object. Alternatively, the switch can comprise a sensor for detecting pressure for activation of the timed duration control unit to operate the motorized fan, based on force applied by a person. Force can be applied by either the weight of the person's body or pressing the switch with a finger, for example. Alternatively, or in addition to the above-described features, the switch can be manipulated by a person to activate the timed duration control unit to operate the motorized fan. The apparatus can further comprise an element coupled to the switch, for removably attaching the switch to the object. The timed duration control unit can be functional to provide the energy source from an internal or external energy source. The object can be a toilet stand, cat litter box, or a waste disposal container, for example. Moreover, the apparatus can comprise a porous filter situated with respect to the casing so as to receive air from the inlet port, and a liquid or oil fragrance for application to the porous filter, for treating the air from the inlet port so as to be fragrant upon passing through the filter. The porous filter can comprise a paper, natural or synthetic fiber material, or charcoal, for example, and is absorbent to allow the liquid or oil fragrance to permeate it. The apparatus can further comprise an inlet nozzle member coupled to the casing and the conduit to duct air from the conduit to the inlet port of the casing. The inlet nozzle member can define a relatively wide opening where it meets with the casing and a relatively narrow opening where is meets with the conduit. The inlet nozzle member defines a passage between its two openings to channel air through such member. The elements used to removably attach the casing, intake member and/or switch to the object can be one or more suctions cups or hooked members, for example. The elements used to removably attached the casing, intake member and/or switch to the object can comprise one or more suction cups or hooked members, for example. The conduit can comprise a flexible hose for ducting the air from t

Problems solved by technology

However, these devices have been subject to various disadvantages.

Such devices are typically inefficient in operation, unsightly in appearance, and / or costly to manufacture.

In addition, such devices require expensive installation and / or cannot be placed at the source of the odor generation.

Further, such devices have generally not been effective in treatment of malodorous air from the area in which the device is operated.

As a result, many of these devices have not achieved as widespread commercial success as could be possible.

Many of these devices are intended for use in positions relatively far from the source of malodorous air and are thus rendered less effective for this reason.

A further disadvantage of many such prior art devices is the large number of working parts that makes the device relatively complex to assemble and expensive to manufacture.

A related problem is that such complex devices wear out or break relatively soon due to their numerous parts and part couplings that are critical to the device's operation.

In general, the larger the number of parts and part couplings a device has, the sooner the device will wear out or break due to damage, wear, or displacement of one or more parts.

Another problem is that many of the compact filtering units cannot eliminate or neutralize malodorous air.

Other ventilation devices cannot be hidden or made less noticeable when attached to an object.

The overall appearance of the device and object thus suffer.

Moreover, many previous devices are unsightly and too large to be hidden from view.

Furthermore, previous devices are not generally adaptable to be attached to different objects.

Moreover, many previous devices have failed to provide an effective mechanism to control the fan.

Additionally, other systems are not adaptable to remove or treat malodorous air from a multitude of locations.

In many instances, malodorous source generation is in an inconvenient location in which a known filtering unit would be inadequate due to the lack of any mechanism to reach to an area near the source.

In addition, some areas in which it may be desired to operate such devices are not proximate to a wall power outlet or other source of electric power.

Another problem with previous devices is that many use activated charcoal as a filter media.

In addition, some previous devices are ineffective in obtaining their intended purpose, eliminating or treating malodorous air.

Although a multitude of devices have been proposed for removing foul air, problems have arisen for the removal of the malodor from an interior portion of an object while circulating refreshed air.

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