Occupant air filter for vehicles

Abstract

An air filter device to filter fresh air for occupants of a vehicle is disclosed. The device includes a generally circular bottom base unit including a perimeter mounting portion to retain said device in an air conduit. The perimeter mounting portion includes a pair of mounting lips separated by an outwardly extending mounting groove. The lips resiliently flex over a rim formed in the vehicle to position the device in place. Extending from the base unit is an air filter which is sized and shaped to fit into a cavity located within a blower motor assembly. In this manner the device can be retrofit into a standard vehicle to provide air filtration without requiring extensive modification of the ducting and the like.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates generally to the field of air filters, and in particular to air filters which may be used to filter air being drawn into a closed space, such as the inside of a vehicle.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONModern vehicles are built to withstand the extremes of climate. Therefore, the human occupied portion of the vehicle tends to be a closed space which can be heated, or cooled, to an appropriate temperature for any human occupants. Being a closed space, however, requires that fresh air be provided to the interior.Most vehicles, therefore, are provided with a fresh air intake conduit which allows fresh air from the outside to be passed into the interior of the vehicles. The majority of vehicles are equipped with a turbine fan blower air circulation system. This is widely used in both older and new vehicles. However, the so called "fresh air" from the outside is not fresh at all. For example, in a traffic jam, with a large number of vehicles produci...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

What is required, therefore, is a device which can easily and efficiently filter the fresh air intake into a vehicle's air system. Preferably such device would be easy to build and install. Also, such a device would preferably be able to be used in a number of different vehicles from different manufacturers, and yet would provide consistent results. Such an occupant air filter could be retrofit into existing vehicles, without the need for modifications to the ducts, conduits or plenums and would apply to turbine fan blowers. Further, the device should be replaceable, in the event it becomes clogged with dirt or pollutants. Thus as well as being easy to insert into a standard vehicle, it should also be easy to demount.

Problems solved by technology

However, the so called "fresh air" from the outside is not fresh at all.

This is especially true in urban and congested areas where overall air pollution is a serious problem.

However, this design is one that needs to be installed in the factory, and additionally requires a heater to keep the filter functioning correctly.

Such a device is awkward, expensive to build and install, and generally impractical.

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