Air filtration and treatment apparatus and system

Abstract

An air filtration and treatment device (10) comprising: a housing (12) having an air inlet structure (24) configured to receive ambient air, an air outlet structure (26) configured to release a first portion (29b) of filtered air, and an air passage (28) between the air inlet structure (26) and the air outlet structure (28); a fan (14) arranged to force air through the air passage (28) between the air inlet structure (24) and the air outlet structure (26); a controller (22) configured to control the fan (14); a filter (16) arranged to filter air passing through the air passage (28); a receiver (18) positioned towards the air outlet structure (26) relative to the filter (16) in which a treatment composition (56) is positioned, where an evaporable vapor (58) associated with the treatment composition (56) can accumulate in a headspace (34) of the receiver (18); and an entrainment structure (20) in fluid communication with the air passage (28), having one or more entrainment outlets (30) for releasing a second portion (29b) of filtered air (28), where the entrainment structure (20) is selectively movable relative to the housing (12), the amount of vaporizable vapor (58) entrained by the second portion (29b) is controlled by the amount of filtered air (28) exiting the one or more entrainment outlets (30).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus and system for air cleaning, in particular for filtering and treating indoor air. Background Art

[0002] The presence of dust, pet dander, odors, airborne organic matter (such as mold, and airborne pathogens) can impair air quality, particularly indoor air quality. Accordingly, various types of indoor air treatment or filtration devices have been proposed.

[0003] One such air filtration device includes a housing with a fan that draws air in through the rear center of the unit, passes the air through a filter, and then exhausts the air through a grille at the top of the housing. The filter may be a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter, which is arranged to collect microscopic particles such as allergy-causing pollen grains, dust mites, mold spores, and pet dander particles. An ionizer may also be included.

[0004] Some indoor air treatment or filtering devices may include a fragrance or disinfectant substance discharged from the device into the air stream. However, such devices generally discharge a predetermined or constant amount of the substance. In some cases, users have resorted to turning such devices on and off to try and change the amount of the substance discharged. However, the user must remember to turn the device on and off, which may be neglected, resulting in the device operating in a manner that discharges too little substance to effectively clean the air, or discharges too much substance resulting in ineffective use of the substance. Summary of the invention

[0005] The present invention seeks to overcome or at least ameliorate one or more of the problems identified above or at least provide a usable alternative.

[0006] In a first aspect, an air filtering and treating device is provided, the air filtering and treating device comprising: a housing having an air inlet structure configured to receive ambient air, an air outlet structure configured to release a first portion of filtered air, and an air passageway between the air inlet structure and the air outlet structure; a fan arranged to force air through the air passageway between the air inlet structure and the air outlet structure; a controller configured to control the fan; a filter arranged to filter air passing through the air passageway; a receiver positioned toward the air outlet structure relative to the filter in which a treatment composition is positioned, wherein evaporable vapor associated with the treatment composition can accumulate in a top space of the receiver; and an entrainment structure fluidly connected to the air passageway, having one or more entrainment outlets for releasing a second portion of the filtered air, wherein the entrainment structure can be selectively moved relative to the housing to control the amount of the evaporable vapor entrained by the second portion of the filtered air leaving the one or more entrainment outlets.

[0007] In certain embodiments, the housing includes an exhaust structure coupled to and rotatable relative to the entrainment structure, wherein the entrainment structure is configured to rotate relative to the exhaust structure to adjust an amount of the second portion of the filtered air entering the head space, thereby controlling the amount of the evaporable vapor entrained by the second portion of the filtered air exiting the one or more entrainment outlets.

[0008] In certain embodiments, the exhaust structure includes a plurality of inlet holes in fluid communication with the head space, the plurality of inlet holes enabling the second portion of the filtered air to be directed within the head space, wherein the entrainment structure includes a wall having one or more gaps, wherein the entrainment structure is configured to rotate relative to the exhaust structure to adjust the alignment of the one or more gaps with the plurality of inlet holes, thereby controlling the amount of the vaporizable vapor entrained by the second portion of the filtered air exiting the one or more entrainment outlets.

[0009] In certain embodiments, the exhaust structure includes a channel for accommodating a biasing member therein and a plurality of stepped recesses, wherein a neck portion of the entrainment structure has a protrusion that is receivable in the biasing member, is movable along the biasing member and is biased by the biasing member into engagement with one of the stepped recesses, wherein a force applied to the entrainment structure by the user along the longitudinal axis of the device causes the protrusion to disengage from the corresponding stepped recess, thereby allowing the entrainment structure to rotate relative to the housing and allowing the protrusion to engage with a different stepped recess, thereby controlling the amount of the vaporizable vapor entrained by the second portion of the filtered air exiting the one or more entrainment outlets.

[0010] In certain embodiments, each inlet aperture is diametrically offset relative to the remainder of the inlet apertures.

[0011] In certain embodiments, the entrainment structure is configured to substantially enclose the receiver within the housing, wherein the entrainment structure is removable from the vent structure of the housing to allow access to the receiver.

[0012] In certain embodiments, the air filtration and treatment device further comprises a position sensor in communication with the controller, the position sensor being configured to sense a position of the entrainment structure relative to the housing, wherein the controller is configured to receive a position signal from the position sensor and facilitate outputting the position of the entrainment assembly to a user.

[0013] In certain embodiments, the position sensor comprises one or more photodetectors, wherein the air filtration and treatment device comprises one or more emitters, wherein the one or more photodetectors are configured to sense the presence or absence of light emitted by the one or more emitters to detect the position of the entrainment assembly.

[0014] In certain embodiments, the one or more photodetectors are infrared photodetectors and the one or more emitters are infrared emitters.

[0015] In certain embodiments, the air outlet structure includes a plurality of blades, at least some of which have deflection members extending therefrom to deflect a second portion of the filtered air radially inward within the head space of the container so that the evaporable vapor is entrained with the second portion of the filtered air as it exits one or more entrainment outlets.

[0016] In certain embodiments, each deflection member extends substantially orthogonally from a respective blade.

[0017] In certain embodiments, the air filtration and treatment device further comprises a force sensor in communication with the controller, wherein the force sensor is configured to detect the presence of a container containing a treatment composition within the receiver and to generate a force signal indicative of the presence of the container within the receiver, wherein the controller is configured to operate the fan in response to receiving the force signal indicative of the presence of the container within the receiver.

[0018] In some embodiments, the force signal indicates an amount of force sensed by the force sensor, wherein the controller is configured to determine an amount of treatment composition remaining in the container based on the amount of force sensed by the force sensor, and facilitate outputting the amount of treatment composition remaining in the container to a user.

[0019] In certain embodiments, the air filtration and treatment device further comprises an integrated sensing module comprising a fan and a particle sensor, wherein the particle sensor is configured to sense a particle count of ambient air drawn through the integrated sensing module by the fan and facilitate output of the particle count to a user.

[0020] In certain embodiments, the housing includes a door movable between an open position and a closed position to access, position, and replace the filter.

[0021] In certain embodiments, the housing has a base having a convex surface that is at least partially positionable within a recess disposed at an end of the filter to position the filter within the housing.

[0022] In certain embodiments, the air filtration and treatment device also includes an input button to operate the device according to customized settings, wherein the controller is configured to: receive customized setting data indicating customized settings for operating the device; store an association between the customized settings and the button in a memory; receive a signal indicating that the button is selected by a user; and operate the fan according to the customized settings stored in the memory.

[0023] In another aspect, a system is provided, comprising: an air filtration and treatment device constructed according to one or more of the above embodiments, the air filtration and treatment device comprising a position sensor, wherein the air filtration and treatment device further comprises: a communication module; and a computer program executable by a processor of a remote computing device, wherein execution of the computer program by the processor configures the processor to: receive position sensor data indicating a position of an entrainment structure of the air filtration and treatment device from the communication module of the air filtration and treatment device; and control an output device of the remote computing device to indicate the sensed position of the entrainment assembly to a user.

[0024] On the other hand, a system is provided, comprising: an air filtration and treatment device constructed according to one or more embodiments of the above-mentioned embodiments, the air filtration and treatment device comprising a force sensor, wherein the air filtration and treatment device further comprises: a communication module; and a computer program, which can be executed by a processor of a remote computing device, wherein the execution of the computer program by the processor configures the processor to: receive force sensor data indicating the force sensed by the force sensor from the communication module; and control the output device of the remote computing device to indicate to the user the amount of the treatment composition remaining in the container.

[0025] On the other hand, a system is provided, comprising: an air filtration and treatment device constructed according to one or more of the above-described embodiments, the air filtration and treatment device comprising customized settings; and a computer program capable of being executed by a processor of a remote computing device, wherein execution of the computer program by the processor configures the processor to: receive customized setting data from a user via the remote computing device; and transmit the customized setting data to a communication module of the air filtration and treatment device for storage in a memory in association with a button.

[0026] Other aspects and embodiments will be appreciated throughout the detailed description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] The present invention is described by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0028] Figure 1 are front, top, and right side isometric views illustrating one example of the device.

[0029] Figure 2 are front, bottom, and right side isometric views illustrating one example of the device.

[0030] Figure 3 is a front view illustrating the device.

[0031] Figure 4 is a rear view illustrating the device.

[0032] Figure 5A and Figure 5B are exploded front, top, and right side isometric views illustrating the device.

[0033] Figure 6 is a front cross-sectional view illustrating the device.

[0034] Figure 7 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating the device.

[0035] Figure 8 The top view and front view of the entrainment structure and exhaust structure of the device.

[0036] Fig. 9 are top and left side views of the entrainment structure, exhaust structure, container, and position sensor.

[0037] Fig.10 It is an underside view of the entrainment structure, exhaust structure, container, position sensor and plunger.

[0038] Fig.11 It is the lower side view of the entrainment structure and the exhaust structure.

[0039] Fig.12It is a bottom side view of the cover portion of the entrainment structure.

[0040] Fig.13 It is a bottom view of the exhaust structure of the shell.

[0041] Fig.14 is a top view of the exhaust structure of the housing.

[0042] Fig.15 This is an enlarged view of the underside of the blades of the exhaust structure.

[0043] Fig.16 are exploded top and side views of the container, plunger, force sensor, and associated circuit board.

[0044] Fig.17 are exploded bottom and side views of the container, plunger, force sensor, and associated circuit board.

[0045] Fig.18 is an enlarged front cross-sectional view of a container supported on a plunger pressing against a force sensor.

[0046] Fig.19 is a rear, bottom, isometric view of the unit with the door in the open position.

[0047] Fig. 20 is a rear, top, isometric view of the unit with the door in the open position.

[0048] Figure 21a is a side view of the head cap of the filter of the device.

[0049] Figure 21b is a side view of the base cap of the filter of the device.

[0050] Fig. 22 is a side view of the base of the device.

[0051] Fig.23 are top and side views of the filter of the device.

[0052] Fig.24 The following are bottom and side views of the filter of the device.

[0053] Fig.25 is a functional block diagram of an example of a control system of the device.

[0054] Fig.26 is a system diagram showing a system including the device, a server processing system, and a remote communication device.

[0055] Fig. 27 is a functional block diagram of a remote computing device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0056] The following modes, which are given by way of example only, are described to provide a more accurate understanding of the subject matter of one or more preferred embodiments. In the drawings, to illustrate the features of the example embodiments, the same reference numerals are used to identify the same parts throughout the drawings.

[0057] refer to Figures 1 to 7 , a schematic diagram of an example of an air filtration and treatment device 10 is shown. The device 10 is configured to filter 16 and treat indoor air. The air filtration and treatment device 10 includes a housing 12, a fan 14, a filter 16, a receiver 18, an entrainment structure 20, and a controller 22. The housing 12 has an air inlet structure 24 configured to receive ambient air. The housing 12 also includes an air outlet structure 26 configured to release a first portion 29a of filtered air. The housing 12 also includes an air passage 28 arranged between the air inlet structure 24 and the air outlet structure 26. The filter 16 is arranged to filter the air passing through the air passage 28. The fan 14 is arranged to force air through the air passage 28 between the air inlet structure 24 and the air outlet structure 26. The controller 22 is configured to control the fan 14 to force air to be drawn into the air inlet structure 24 and leave the air outlet structure 26. The receiver 18 is positioned relative to the filter 16 having the treatment composition 56 positioned therein toward the air outlet structure 26, wherein the evaporable vapor 58 associated with the treatment composition 56 can accumulate in the head space 34 of the receiver 18. The entrainment structure 20 is in fluid communication with the air passage 28 and has one or more entrainment outlets 30 for releasing the second portion 29b of the filtered air. The entrainment structure 20 can be selectively moved relative to the housing 12 to control the amount of evaporable vapor 58 entrained by the second portion of the filtered air exiting the one or more entrainment outlets 30.

[0058] More specifically, refer to Figures 8 to 15 , the housing 12 includes an exhaust structure 32 that is coupled and rotatable relative to the entrainment structure 20. The entrainment structure 20 is configured to rotate relative to the exhaust structure 32 to adjust the amount of the second portion of the filtered air that enters the head space 34, thereby controlling the amount of vaporizable vapor 58 entrained by the second portion of the filtered air exiting the one or more entrainment outlets 30.

[0059] The exhaust structure 32 includes a plurality of inlet apertures 36 in fluid communication with the head space 34 of the receiver 18, the plurality of inlet apertures enabling a second portion of the filtered air to be directed within the head space 34. The entrainment structure 20 includes a wall 60 having one or more entrainment inlets 38, wherein the entrainment structure 20 is configured to rotate relative to the exhaust structure 32 to adjust the alignment of the one or more inlet apertures 36 with the one or more entrainment inlets 38, thereby controlling the amount of evaporable vapor 58 entrained by the second portion of the filtered air exiting the one or more entrainment outlets 30. Each inlet aperture 36 is diametrically offset relative to the remainder of the inlet apertures 36. Similarly, each entrainment inlet 38 in the wall of the entrainment structure 20 is diametrically offset relative to the remainder of the entrainment inlets 38 in the wall. The diametric offset of the inlet apertures 36 and the entrainment inlet 38 advantageously avoids direct interference of the relative incoming flows of the filtered air within the head space 34 of the receiver 18.

[0060] The exhaust structure 32 also includes a passage 40 and a plurality of stepped recesses 44 in which a biasing member 42 is received. The neck portion of the entrainment structure 20 has a protrusion 46 that is receivable within and movable along the passage 40 and is biased by the biasing member 42, which is provided in the form of a spring, into engagement with one of the stepped recesses 44 located along the passage 40. A force applied by a user to the entrainment structure 20 along the longitudinal axis 48 of the device 10 disengages the protrusion 46 from the corresponding stepped recess 44, thereby allowing the entrainment structure 20 to rotate relative to the housing 12 so that once the downward force is released, the protrusion 46 can be positioned to engage with a different stepped recess 44, thereby controlling the amount of vaporizable vapor 58 entrained by the second portion of the filtered air exiting the one or more entrainment outlets 30.

[0061] The air outlet structure 26 of the housing 12, provided in the form of the exhaust structure 32, includes a plurality of vanes 50. At least some of the vanes 50 have deflection members 52 extending therefrom to deflect the second portion of the filtered air radially inwardly within the head space 34 of the container 18 so that the vaporizable vapor 58 is entrained with the second portion of the filtered air when exiting the one or more entrainment outlets 30. In one form, each deflection member 52 extends substantially orthogonally from a corresponding vane 50.

[0062] The entrainment structure 20 is configured to substantially enclose the receiver 18 within the housing 12. The entrainment structure 20 is removable from the vent structure 32 of the housing 12 to allow access to the receiver 18. The entrainment structure 20 and the receiver 18 together define a headspace 34 above the treatment composition 56 contained in the container 54.

[0063] The entrainment structure 20 has a first portion 62 having a planar profile secured to a shouldered end of a second portion 64. The first portion 62 is preferably ultrasonically welded to the shouldered end of the second portion 64. The upper edge of the shouldered end includes the entrainment outlet 30. The underside surface of the flared end of the second portion 64 is tapered to deflect filtered air out of the exhaust structure 32 outwardly and laterally. The tapered underside surface of the second portion 64 of the entrainment structure 20 also provides clearance to allow a user to place their hands under the entrainment structure 20 to lift the device 10. The inner surface of the wall defining the second portion 64 of the entrainment structure 20 includes a plurality of "L-shaped" ribs 68 that provide support for the strength of the entrainment structure 20, as well as providing support for the planar underside surface of the first portion 62 of the entrainment structure 20.

[0064] The wall 60 of the downwardly extending neck 70 defining the second portion 64 includes the entrainment inlet 38. The entrainment inlet 38 is positioned at the upper portion of the neck 70, adjacent to the lower portion of the shoulder section. In particular, the entrainment inlet 38 includes a first entrainment inlet 72 and a second entrainment inlet 74. The first inlet 72 and the second inlet 74 are preferably of different sizes. The first inlet 72 is generally a hole, and the second inlet 74 is generally a slot. When the entrainment structure 20 is moved to the maximum entrainment position, the inlet aperture 36 of the exhaust structure 32 is aligned with both the first entrainment inlet 72 and the second entrainment inlet 74, thereby allowing filtered air to enter the head space 34 through both the first entrainment inlet 72 and the second entrainment inlet 74. In the intermediate entrainment position, the wall 60 of the exhaust structure 32 blocks or covers the first entrainment inlet 72. However, the second entrainment inlet 74 is a slot, along which one of the inlet apertures 36 of the exhaust structure 32 moves, so that filtered air continues to flow into the second entrainment inlet 74. In the minimum entrainment position, the wall 60 of the vent structure 32 blocks or covers the first and second entrainment inlets 72 , 74 such that filtered air does not substantially flow into the head space 34 of the receiver 18 .

[0065] refer to Fig.19 and Fig. 20 , the housing 12 preferably includes a door 76 that can be moved between an open position and a closed position to access, position and replace the filter 16. The door 76 is preferably a hinged door, wherein the hinge axis of the door 76 is parallel to the longitudinal axis 48 of the device 10. The base 82 of the housing 12 has a convex surface that is at least partially positionable in a recessed portion disposed at the end of the filter 16 to position the filter 16 in a filter cavity defined by the housing 12.

[0066] refer to Figure 7, the housing 12 defines an air passage 28 between the air inlet structure 24 and the air outlet structure 26. The air passage 28 generally directs air from the air inlet structure 24 through the filter 16 and the fan 14, and toward the air outlet structure 26. A first portion 29a of filtered air (i.e., air drawn through the filter 16) exits the air outlet structure 26, which is provided in the form of an exhaust structure 32 including a plurality of vanes 50. A second portion 29b of filtered air is directed within the head space 34 of the receiver 18 containing the treatment composition 56.

[0067] The housing 12 may be generally cylindrical and may be freestanding. In one example, the overall dimensions of the housing 12 are approximately 718 mm high with a diameter of approximately 287 mm and are suitable for filtering and cleaning rooms and residences. However, other shapes and support configurations are also possible and contemplated herein, such as square shapes and wall-mounted variations. The device 10 has a total weight of approximately 12 kg.

[0068] refer to Figures 1 to 7 , the housing 12 includes a first (upper) housing portion 78 coupled to a lower (second) housing portion 80. The lower housing portion 80 includes a base 82 on which the filter 16 is supported. The lower housing portion 80 includes an inner body 84 extending from the base 82 that defines a filter cavity 86. The walls of the inner body have openings in the walls for receiving the filter 16 therein. Attached to the inner body 84 are outer wall structures 88, wherein one of the outer wall structures 88 includes a hinged door 76 that is aligned with the opening in the inner body 84 and is movable between an open position and a closable position to access, position, and replace the filter 16.

[0069] refer to Figure 6 and Fig. 22 The base 82 of the housing 12 includes a convex, upturned base surface having a contour that corresponds at least in part to a complementary recess 90 on the bottom end surface of the filter 16 to centrally align the filter 16 within the filter cavity 86. Figures 1 to 7 , the inlet structure 24 of the device 10 is provided in the form of an inlet vent positioned above the base 82 and circumferentially surrounding the lower portion of the lower housing portion 80. The inlet vent 24 may be provided in the form of a pair of inlet exhaust structures 92 that circumferentially surround the lower region of the lower housing portion 80 to draw ambient air into the passageway 28 of the device 10 due to the operation of the fan 14 positioned within the housing 12.

[0070] Ambient air entering the lower housing portion 80 is drawn radially through the filter 16 and travels upward toward and through the fan 14. The filter 16 may be a multi-layer filter 16. The filter 16 has a central aperture 94 extending along and coaxial with the longitudinal axis 48 of the device 10.

[0071] The upper housing portion 78 houses a lower inner housing section 96 therein that is coupled to an upper inner housing section 98. The lower inner housing section 96 houses the fan 14 therein. The upper inner housing section 98 houses an inner housing shell 100, a controller 22, and a receiver 18 having a container 54 containing a treatment composition 56 positioned therein. The entrainment structure 20 is coupled to an upper portion of the upper inner housing section 98. A cylindrical outer wall structure 102 is coupled to and surrounds the lower inner housing section 96 that is coupled to the upper inner housing section 98. The cylindrical outer wall structure 102 has a plurality of holes to allow a plurality of buttons 104 supported on the outer wall of the upper inner housing section 98 to protrude therethrough or at least be accessible therethrough.

[0072] refer to Figure 6 , a mounting structure 106 is mounted across the inner surface of the lower inner casing section 96. The fan 14 is coupled to the underside of the mounting structure 106. The mounting structure 106 includes a plurality of arms 108 extending outwardly from a plate portion 110 coupled to the fan 14. A grommet member 112 is positioned between the mounting structure 106 and the upper surface of the fan 14 to minimize the transfer of vibration forces.

[0073] As mentioned above and with reference Figure 5A , Figure 5B , Figure 6 and Figure 7 , the upper interior housing section 98 houses the inner housing 100 therein. The inner housing 100 is supported on the upper surface of the mounting structure 106. The inner housing 100 has a lower flared portion 114 that tapers toward an upper neck portion 116. The lower flared portion 114 houses the controller 22, which rests on the plate portion 110 of the mounting structure 106. The middle portion 118 of the inner housing 100 houses the power source component 120, which is supported on pins 122 extending upwardly from the mounting structure 106, thereby lifting the power source component 120 above the controller 22.

[0074] Refer to Figure 5 to Figure 7 as well as Figures 16 to 18, the receiver 18 is arranged to provide a head space 34 above the treatment composition 56 to allow vapor 58 associated with the treatment composition 56 to build up or accumulate within the head space 34. The receiver 18 containing the treatment composition 56 is positioned within the upper neck portion 116 of the inner shell 100. The base portion 124 of the receiver 18 includes a central well 126 having a force sensor 128 and an associated printed circuit board (PCB) 130 positioned therein. A plunger 132 substantially encloses the force sensor 128 within the well 126. The plunger 132 is movable along the longitudinal axis 48 of the device 10 under the weight of the container 54 supported within the receiver 18, wherein the weight of the container 54 is transferred to the plunger 132 pressed against the force sensor 128. The plunger 132 has a protrusion 134 extending from an underside surface aligned with the force sensor 128. When no container 54 is positioned within the receiver 18, the protrusion 134 of the plunger 132 is separated from the force sensor 128 such that the force sensor 128 does not sense the presence of the container 54. In this case, the controller 22 does not operate the fan 14 based on a force signal (or no force signal) indicating that insufficient weight (or no container 54 at all) is present within the container 54. When the container 54 is positioned within the receiver 18, the weight of the container 54 causes the plunger 132 to move along the longitudinal axis 48 such that the weight of the container 54 is transferred by the plunger 132 to the force sensor 128, thereby detecting the presence of the container 54. If sufficient force is applied to the force sensor 128 by the container 54 containing the treatment composition 56, the fan 14 is operated by the controller 22. In a specific form, the weight is measured in 50 gram increments, wherein an alert may be output to a user via the device 10 when 50 grams of the treatment composition 56 remain, wherein the output may be via the light ring 184 and / or via the remote computing device 148. As Fig.16 As shown, a biasing structure 129, such as a spring, preferably provided in the form of a compression spring, supports a force sensor 128 provided by a PCB 130. If a container 54 falls into the device 10 when loaded, the biasing structure 129 can absorb at least a portion of the impact force transmitted to the force sensor 128, thereby reducing the possibility that the force sensor 128 will be damaged.

[0075] The composition 56 included in the container 54 can be a vaporizable steam, which releases the composition, such as a gel or gel cartridge impregnated or prepared with essential oils or other suitable substances. The container 54 can be provided in the form of a detachable cartridge adapted to keep the treatment composition 56, wherein the detachable cartridge is located in the receiver 18. The composition 56 is preferably provided in a replaceable cartridge as a gel, which is assembled in the receiver 18 when installed. The replaceable cartridge 54 has a removable cap, which is removed and can be discarded before the cartridge 54 is assembled to the receiver 18. The filling level of the gel makes the head space 34 remain above the gel. However, it should be noted that the replaceable cartridge 54 can also carry a liquid or a viscous liquid. Other examples can omit the cartridge, wherein for example, a liquid or a viscous liquid can be directly poured into the receiver 18 26.

[0076] Composition 56 is preferably a vaporizable substance or a substance that emits volatile substances that are adapted to affect, reduce or kill airborne pathological materials or biological materials. An example of composition 56 can be a gel insert, cartridge or disc impregnated with essential oils. Essential oils that have been found to affect, reduce or kill mold and / or bacteria are, for example, clove oil, cinnamon, peppermint, rosemary and eucalyptus oil. Therefore, a gel with a blend of clove oil, rosemary and eucalyptus extract can be used. An example of a gel can include a polysaccharide gelling agent, or in other examples, a gelling agent of gelatin. The gelling agent can be formed from a blend of vaporizable oils.

[0077] refer to Fig.25 , the controller 22 of the air filtration and treatment device 10 may include a processor 136, a memory 138, and an input / output (i / o) interface 140 coupled together via a bus 142. The memory 138 may include both volatile memory components and non-volatile memory components. The controller 22, together with one or more peripheral devices coupled to the i / o interface 140, collectively forms a control system 144 of the device 10.

[0078] The controller 22 may include a communication module 146 or be coupled to the communication module via the i / o interface 140. The communication module 146 may be a wireless communication module. In one form, the wireless communication module 146 may utilize a wireless communication protocol such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, although other short-range or long-range communication protocols and modules may be utilized. The communication module 146 may be used to transmit various data to a remote computing device 148 and receive various data from the remote computing device.

[0079] The controller 22 may store in memory a computer program referred to as a control program 150. The control program 150 includes executable instructions that configure the controller 22 to perform various functions as described below.

[0080] refer to Fig. 27 , the remote computing device 148 may include a processor 152, a memory 154, and an input / output interface 156 coupled together via a bus 158. The remote computing device 148 includes an input device 160 and an output device 162 coupled to the i / o interface. The remote computing device 148 also includes a communication module 164 that may be coupled to the i / o interface 156. As described above, the communication module 164 may include a Wi-Fi ™ and or Bluetooth ™ Functionality to allow communication with apparatus 10. Remote computing device 148 may be a smart phone, tablet computer, laptop computer, desktop computer, etc. In certain embodiments of remote computing device 148, input device 160 and output device 162 may be provided as integrated input / output devices, such as a touch screen interface.

[0081] The remote computing device 148 may store a computer program 166 in the memory 154 that can be executed by the processor 152 of the remote computing device 148 to help facilitate communication with the air filtration and treatment apparatus 10 and provide output to the user. In certain embodiments, the computer program 166 may be an executable application, such as a smartphone application, for example where the remote computing device 148 is a smartphone or tablet device.

[0082] The controller 22 of the apparatus 10 may communicate with the remote computing device 148 using the communication interface 140, either directly or indirectly via the network 168. The remote computing device 148 may be used to configure the controller 22 to operate in a particular mode and / or during particular operating times (i.e., timer or on / off timer, fan 14 speed, entrainment position, etc.). The controller 22 may also be configured to send messages or alerts to the remote computing device 148.

[0083] The computer program 150 of the device 10 or the computer program 166 of the remote computing device 148 can configure the corresponding processor 136, 152 to extrapolate the fan 14 speed and usage time to determine the approximate life of both the HEPA filter 16 and the composition / gel cartridge 54. Therefore, the method performed by the controller 22 of the device 10 and / or the remote computing device 148 may include various maintenance type routines. For example, one or more computer programs 150, 166 can determine when the HEPA filter 16 or the composition needs to be changed and warn the user. For example, the controller 22 or the remote computing device 148 can time the operating time of the fan 14 and provide an alarm when a predetermined number of hours has passed, thereby indicating the life of the HEPA filter 16. Once the user changes the HEPA filter 16 or the container 54, they may need to reset the timer through the application software 166 of the remote computing device 148, although the newly sensed weight of the container 54 containing the composition can be used by the controller 22 to automatically reset the counter without user input or may only require confirmation in response to a notification output to the user.

[0084] refer to Fig.26, the device 10 can be configured to operate in access point mode and / or internet (client) mode. Access point mode enables a direct wireless connection between the device 10 and the remote computing device 148. In access point mode, the device 10 can act as a network host, and the remote computing device 148 can connect to the SSID of the device 10 using a factory-set password (which can be changed later via the application of the application software operated by the smart device). While in this mode, the application software will only allow simple functions: a. Set home / office Wi-Fi router credentials; b. Turn the device 10 on or off c. Change user settings of the device, such as fan 14 speed, timer, LED color, etc.; d. Real-time reading of air quality. In internet (client) mode, the device 10 connects online using the SSID and credentials of a local Wi-Fi hotspot (e.g., at home or in the office). When the device 10 is in access point mode, these credentials will have been established earlier. When in this mode, the device 10 will log into a cloud-hosted web service on the server 224 of the system 226, where it can be uniquely identified and its functions become available through the service. The cloud-hosted web service can allow a user to connect and control multiple devices 10 simultaneously. For example, multiple devices 10 can provide dust and dew point readings at different locations within a residence or multiple residences. The cloud-hosted web service can also allow related devices 10 (such as those owned by friends) to connect and share data such as air quality data. The cloud-hosted web service can also allow full remote control of one or more of the devices. In Internet (client) mode, the device 10 provides full functionality. These functions include all functions present in access point mode and other Internet-enabled functions: a. Automatically reset the local device clock to Internet time; b. Ability to upload locally stored data related to air quality and usage; c. Ability to connect to a group of units in a home or office environment. For example, a user can assign names to units such as "Master Bedroom", "Living Room", etc.; d. Establish timed on / off functions; and e. Report trend data from the cloud.

[0085] refer to Fig.25 , one or more sensors may be coupled to the controller 22 of the device 10 via the i / o interface 140. The control program 150 of the controller 22 may use at least some of the sensor data to control the operation of the fan 14, particularly the speed of the fan 14, and to facilitate output to a user requesting adjustment of the entrainment position of the entrainment structure 20.

[0086] In one embodiment, the air filtration and treatment device 10 may include a position sensor 170 that communicates with the controller 22 via an i / o interface. The position sensor 170 is configured to sense the position of the entrainment structure 20 relative to the housing 12. The controller 22 is configured to receive a position signal from the position sensor 170 and facilitate feedback output of the current position of the entrainment structure 20 to the user. Fig. 9 In one form, the position sensor 170 includes one or more photodetectors 172 (shown in phantom). The photodetectors 172 are configured to detect light emitted from one or more emitters 174 (shown in phantom). The one or more photodetectors 172 are configured to sense the presence or absence of light emitted by the one or more emitters 174 to detect the position of the entrainment structure 20. In a specific form, the one or more photodetectors 172 are infrared photodetectors and the one or more emitters 174 are infrared emitters. The photodetectors 172 and emitters 174 can be provided in an integrated emitter sensor module including a plurality of legs 176 extending from a body 178, wherein a first leg of the integrated emitter sensor includes a first photodetector and a first emitter, and a second leg of the integrated emitter sensor includes a second photodetector and a second emitter.

[0087] As described above, the controller 22 is configured to facilitate outputting the current position of the entrainment structure 20, which may be accomplished via the output device 162 of the remote computing device 148. Execution of the computer program 166 of the remote computing device 148 configures the processor 152 to receive position sensor 170 data indicating the position of the entrainment structure 20 of the air filtration and treatment device 10 from the communication module 146 of the air filtration and treatment device 10. The processor 152 of the remote computing device 148 is further configured to control the output device 162 of the remote computing device 148 to indicate the sensed position of the entrainment structure 20 to the user. The output device 162 may be an electronic display of the remote computing device 148.

[0088] refer to Figures 16 to 18 and Fig.25, the air filtration and treatment device 10 may include a force sensor 128 in communication with the controller 22. The force sensor 128 is configured to detect the presence of a container 54 containing a treatment composition 56 within the receiver 18 and generate a force signal indicating the presence of the container 54 within the receiver 18. The controller 22 is configured to operate the fan 14 in response to receiving the force signal indicating the presence of the container 54 within the receiver 18. In one form, the force signal indicates an amount of force sensed by the force sensor 128. The controller 22 is configured to determine the amount of treatment composition 56 remaining in the container 54 based on the amount of force sensed by the force sensor 128. The controller 22 is further configured to facilitate outputting the amount of treatment composition 56 remaining in the container 54 to a user.

[0089] The facilitation of the output indicating the amount of treatment composition 56 remaining in the container 54 may be performed via the remote computing device 148. Execution of the computer program 166 by the remote computing device 148 configures the processor 152 to receive force sensor data indicating the force sensed by the force sensor 128 from the communication module 164 of the apparatus 10 and control the output device 162 of the remote computing device 148 to indicate to the user the amount of treatment composition 56 remaining in the container 54. The output device 162 may be an electronic display of the remote computing device 148.

[0090] refer to Figure 6 and Fig.25 , the air filtration and treatment device 10 may include a particle sensor, such as an integrated particle sensing module 180 including a fan and a particle sensor, which is in electrical communication with the controller 22 via the i / o interface 140. The particle sensor is configured to sense a particle count of ambient air drawn through the integrated sensing module by the fan 14 and facilitate output of the particle count to a user. Advantageously, the integrated nature of the module 180 allows ambient air to be received and exhausted via the same opening in the housing 12. The controller 22 may control activation of the fan 14 via the i / o interface 140 and receive a particle count signal from the sensor 180 via the i / o interface 140.

[0091] Facilitation of output indicative of particle count may be performed via remote computing device 148. Execution of computer program 166 by remote computing device 148 configures processor 152 to receive particle count data from controller 22 of apparatus 10 and control output device 162 to present the particle count indicated by the particle count data to a user.

[0092] In one form, the controller 22 of the device 10 is configured to compare the particle count to one or more particle count thresholds stored in the memory 138. In response to the particle count equaling or exceeding the one or more thresholds, the controller 22 may control an increase in the speed of the fan 14 and / or generate and transmit a notification to the remote computing device 148, instructing the user to change the position of the entrainment structure 20 to increase the amount of filtered air entering the head space 34. In response to the particle count equaling or falling below the one or more particle count thresholds, the controller 22 may control a decrease in the speed of the fan 14 and / or generate and transmit a notification to the remote computing device 148, instructing the user to change the position of the entrainment structure 20 to reduce the amount of filtered air entering the head space 34.

[0093] The one or more thresholds may include a lower particle count limit and an upper particle count limit that define one or more operating mode ranges. In particular, the device 10 may include three operating modes: off, low; and high. For each operating mode, the memory 138 may have an associated entrainment structure position and a corresponding range of lower particle count limits and upper particle count limits. In response to receiving the particle count, the controller 22 may compare the sensed particle count with the defined range to determine whether the current operating mode matches the determined operating mode that matches the particle count range. If the current operating mode does not match the operating mode determined based on the particle count, the controller 22 may generate and transmit a notification requesting the user to change the entrainment structure position. In addition, the fan speed may also be changed by the controller 22. In one form, when the controller 22 receives a position signal indicating a change in the position of the entrainment structure 20, the controller 22 may determine a new fan 14 speed of the fan 14 based on the particle count and the current operating mode. For example, in response to the entrainment structure 20 moving from the intermediate entrainment position to the maximum entrainment position, the fan 14 speed may be reduced due to the increased amount of the second portion of the filtered air entering the head space 34. Thus, adjustment of the fan speed allows fine micro-adjustment of the amount of ambient air drawn into the apparatus 10 for filtering, while adjustment of the position of the entrainment structure 20 allows macro-adjustment of the amount of the second portion of filtered air entering the head space 34.

[0094] refer to Fig.25, the air filtration and treatment device 10 may also include a dew point sensor 182 that communicates with the controller 22 via the i / o interface 140. In some examples, the controller 22 may be configured to automatically start the fan 14 of the device 10, or at least transmit a notification to the remote computing device 148, if the particles and dew point exceed a predetermined threshold. In a more specific example related to the dew point sensor 182, this is a combined temperature sensor 182A and humidity sensor 183B to track conditions throughout the day and night when mold spores may be released. The controller 22 can store lookup table data in the memory 138 that defines one or more thresholds for starting the device 10. In particular, the dew point is a function of temperature and relative humidity. For example, at 20°C and 50% relative humidity, the dew point is about 9°C. Mold can begin to grow at room temperature humidity of 80%. This means that in the example given, mold can begin to grow on the wall at a surface temperature of about 13°C or lower. Thus, for example, the device 10 may begin operating in an active operating mode, or generate and transmit a notification indicating the detection to the remote computing device 148. If conditions for mold spore release occur, the user may be alerted and / or the device 10 may automatically turn on the fan 14 (depending on user settings). The hardware for the sensor 182 may be an off-the-shelf dew point sensor 182 or a separate temperature / humidity sensor, whichever is deemed appropriate.

[0095] While examples have been described above in which the controller 22 facilitates output to a user via an output device 162 of a remote computing device, in additional or alternative configurations, the controller 22 may facilitate output to a user by operating a local output device 162 in communication with the i / o interface 156 of the controller 22. In one form, the output device 162 may be provided in the form of one or more light emitting diodes. In a particular form, the one or more light emitting diodes may be provided in the form of a light ring 184, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Fig.25 As shown, the light ring is mounted within the middle portion of the housing 12. The light ring 184 is configured to support the light in a ring structure. The light can emit red light, green light, and / or blue light. The light ring 184 is electrically connected to the i / o interface, wherein the controller 22 can control the light ring 184 to emit a specific color of light or a specific lighting pattern or sequence, such as flashing or blinking, to provide an output to the user. In one form, the light ring 184 of the device 10 is configured to change color to indicate various states of the device 10. For example, the light ring 184 can emit: solid white light to indicate that the device 10 is turned on; solid orange light to indicate that the filter 16 needs to be replaced; flashing orange light to indicate that the gel / composition needs to be changed; solid red light to indicate that both the HEPA and the gel / composition need to be changed.

[0096] like Figures 1 to 7As shown, the air filtration and treatment device 10 may also include a plurality of input buttons 104 that are operatively coupled to the i / o interface 140 of the controller 22. In particular, the air filtration and treatment device 10 may include four buttons, namely a power button 186, an increase fan speed button 188, a decrease fan speed button 190, and a configurable button 192. More specifically, the configurable button 192 is a sleep mode button that operates the air filtration and treatment device 10 during sleep of the user.

[0097] In one form, the user can set customized settings of the air filtration and treatment device 10 during the sleep mode. In particular, the controller 22 is configured to receive customized settings data indicating customized settings for operating the device 10. The controller 22 is configured to store the association between the customized settings and the button 192 in the memory 138. The controller 22 is then configured to receive a signal indicating that the button was selected by the user. Finally, the controller 22 is configured to operate the fan 14 according to the customized settings stored in the memory. In one form, the user can set the fan 14 speed of the fan 14 during the customized sleep mode.

[0098] In one form, the computer program 166 executable by the remote computing device 148 may allow the user to select the same functionality via a user interface of the computer program 166. For example, the user interface of the computer program 166 may present a plurality of soft buttons that the user may select using an input device of the remote computing device 148 to effectively perform the same functions as selecting one or more of the physical buttons provided on the device 10. Data indicative of the selected soft button may be transmitted to the controller 22 of the device 10 via the communication module of the remote computing device to effectively indicate that one of the corresponding physical buttons has been selected, causing the controller 22 to perform the associated operation accordingly.

[0099] Now turn to Figure 5. Fig.21A , Fig.21B and Figure 22 to Figure 24 , shows a filter 16 or a component thereof of the device 10, wherein the filter 16 is arranged to filter air passing through the air passage 28. Ambient air is drawn through the filter 16 so that the filtered air 28 leaves the filter 16 and travels toward and through the fan 14. The filter 16 is preferably a multi-layer filter. In order from the outermost layer to the innermost layer, the filter 16 includes a mesh layer 194, a HEPA filter layer 196, a disinfection layer 198, and an activated carbon layer 200. The HEPA filter layer 196 may be capable of filtering to a particle size of 1.0.

[0100] The filter 16 includes a base cap 202 supported on the base 82 of the housing 12. The filter layers 194-200 are supported on the upper layer of the base cap 202 of the filter 16. The base cap 202 includes a base handle 204 extending from its periphery. The base cap 202 has a raised edge 206 around the periphery to support the outer surface of the filter layers 194-200. A raised wall 208 extends upward from the cap 202 midway between the periphery and the center of the base cap 202. The further raised circular wall 208 supports the inner wall of the filter layers 194-200, thereby defining a central void for drawing filtered air upward through the fan 14. The central portion of the base cap 202 includes a raised section 210 defining a recess 90 in which the raised central portion 210 of the base 82 is at least partially resting.

[0101] The base 82 of the housing 12 includes an upper base portion 82A supported by a lower base portion 82B. The upper base portion 82A is supported in a cavity of the lower base portion 82B. Positioned in the cavity are one or more biasing members such as one or more springs (not shown) and a filter sensor 183 that communicates with the controller 22 via the i / o interface 140. The filter sensor 183 can be a switch that has a first state when there is no filter 16 supported on the upper base portion 82A, and has a second state when the filter 16 is supported on the upper base portion 82A. Therefore, the force applied to the upper base portion 82A by the user inserting the filter 16 or the filter 16 being supported in the housing 12 causes the upper base portion 82A to move downward and toward the lower base portion 82B, while the one or more springs are compressed. This movement causes the switch 183 to transition from the first state to the second state, thereby indicating to the controller 22 that the filter 16 is present in the device 10. When the filter 16 is removed, one or more springs bias the upper base portion 82A away from the lower base portion 82B, causing the switch 183 to transition from the second state to the first state, thereby indicating to the controller 22 that the filter 16 has been removed. The controller 22 is configured to determine whether the filter 16 is present within the device 10 based on a filter sensor signal generated by the filter sensor 183 and received from the filter sensor 183. If the filter sensor signal indicates that the filter 16 is not contained within the housing 12, the controller 22 will disable the operation of the fan 14, but if the filter sensor signal indicates that the filter 16 is present within the housing 12, the controller 22 will enable the operation of the fan 14 accordingly.

[0102] At the opposite end of the filter 16 relative to the base cap 202 is a head cover 212. The head cover 212 includes a substantially annular profile. A top handle 214 extends from the periphery of the head cover 212, which is aligned with the base handle 204 in a manner parallel to the longitudinal axis 48 of the device 10. The top cover 212 has a center hole 216 aligned with the center hole 94 positioned in the filter layer 194-200. Similar to the base cap 202, the periphery of the head cover 212 includes an outer wall 218 extending downwardly, which supports the outer wall of the filter layer 194-200, and an inner wall 220 defining the center hole 216, which supports the inner surface of the filter layer 194-200. The base surface of the lower housing portion 80 includes an inlet vent 220 that fits in the center hole 216 of the head cover 212. A seal 222 is positioned between the upper surface of the head cover 212 and the inlet vent 220 of the lower housing portion 80. The seal 222 is configured to prevent airflow bypass.

[0103] The device 10 may include a door sensor 185 to sense an open position or a closed position of the door 76. The door sensor 185 may be provided in the form of a switch having a first state and a second state. The door sensor 185 communicates with the controller via an i / o interface. When the door 76 is closed, the door sensor 185 is in a first state, wherein a door sensor signal is transmitted from the door sensor 185 to the controller 22, wherein the controller 22 enables operation of the fan 16 (as long as other signals do not indicate that the fan 16 should be disabled). When the door 76 is opened, the door sensor 185 transitions to a second state, wherein a door sensor signal is transmitted from the door sensor 185 to the controller 22, wherein the controller 22 disables operation of the fan 16 until the door 76 is closed.

[0104] Refer to Figure 5 to Figure 7 , the fan 14 may be an electrically powered axial flow fan 14 arranged to rotate about the longitudinal axis 48 of the apparatus 10. Thus, the airflow is generally vertical between the inlet structure 24 and the outlet structure 26. As previously described, the fan 14 is controlled by the controller 22 positioned in the inner housing 100. The fan 14 is supported by the mounting structure 106.

[0105] In operational use, the fan 14 is used to draw air through the housing 12 so that a first portion of filtered air exits the outlet structure 26 and a second portion of filtered air exits the entrainment outlet 30 with vapor 58 of the treatment composition 56 entrained therein. The ambient air drawn in by the housing 12 is filtered using a filter 16 disposed between the inlet structure 24 and the outlet structure 26. Sensor measurements, such as measurements of particle counts, may be used by the controller 22 to adjust the speed of the fan 14 and / or facilitate output of instructions to a user to adjust the position of the entrainment structure 20. For example, the controller 22 may use sensor data indicative of particle counts to transmit a notification to a remote computing device 148. Based on the output provided to the user, the user may manually rotate the entrainment structure 20 relative to the housing 12 to adjust the entrainment position of the entrainment structure 20. The controller 22 continues to sample and monitor one or more sensor measurements so that various instructions may be provided to the user over time to adjust the position of the entrainment structure 20.

[0106] In some forms, the device 10 has a range of about 100 m. 3 / h to about 450m 3 In some forms, the apparatus 10 may additionally include about 500 m 3 / h "turbine" operable flow rate. In a preferred form, the fan may include 10 operating speeds.

[0107] In this specification and the claims that follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" and variations such as "comprising" and "containing", will be understood to imply the inclusion of stated integers or steps or groups of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integers or steps or groups of integers or steps.

[0108] Reference to any known matter or any prior art publication in this specification is not and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or admission or suggestion that the known matter or prior art publication forms part of the common general knowledge in the field involved in this specification.

[0109] While particular examples of the invention have been described, it will be appreciated that the invention extends to alternative combinations of the features disclosed or evident from the disclosure provided herein.

[0110] Many and various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art or will be apparent from the disclosure provided herein without departing from the scope of the invention disclosed.

[0111] List of integers

[0112] Air filtration equipment 10

[0113] Housing 12

[0114] Fan 14

[0115] Filter 16

[0116] Receiver 18

[0117] Entrainment structure 20

[0118] Controller 22

[0119] Air inlet structure 24

[0120] Air outlet structure 26

[0121] Air passage 28

[0122] Filtered air 29

[0123] The first portion 29a of filtered air

[0124] The second portion of filtered air 29b

[0125] Entrainment outlet 30

[0126] Exhaust structure 32

[0127] Headspace 34

[0128] Entrance hole 36

[0129] Entrainment inlet 38

[0130] Channel 40

[0131] Biasing member 42

[0132] Stepped recess 44

[0133] Protrusion 46

[0134] Longitudinal axis 48

[0135] Blade 50

[0136] Deflection member 52

[0137] Container 54

[0138] Processing composition 56

[0139] Steam 58

[0140] The wall 60 of the entrainment structure

[0141] The first part of the entrainment structure 62

[0142] The second part of the entrainment structure 64

[0143] Rib 68

[0144] Neck 70 of the clamping structure

[0145] First entrainment inlet 72

[0146] Second entrainment inlet 74

[0147] Door 76

[0148] Upper housing portion 78

[0149] Lower housing portion 80

[0150] Base 82

[0151] Upper base portion 82A

[0152] Lower base portion 82B

[0153] Internal body 84

[0154] Filter chamber 86

[0155] Outer wall structure 88

[0156] The recessed portion on the end of the filter 90

[0157] A pair of inlet exhaust structures 92

[0158] The center hole of the filter 94

[0159] Lower inner casing section 96

[0160] Upper inner casing section 98

[0161] Inner shell 100

[0162] Outer wall structure 102

[0163] Button 104

[0164] Mounting structure 106

[0165] Arm 108

[0166] Plate section 110

[0167] Grommet component 112

[0168] Lower expansion portion 114

[0169] Upper neck portion 116

[0170] Middle section 118

[0171] Power source component 120

[0172] Pin 122

[0173] The base portion 124 of the receiver

[0174] Well 126

[0175] Force sensor 128

[0176] Bias structure 129

[0177] Force sensor PCB 130

[0178] Plunger 132

[0179] The protrusion 134 of the plunger

[0180] Processor 136 of the controller

[0181] Controller memory 138

[0182] Controller I / O interface 140

[0183] Controller bus 142

[0184] Control System 144

[0185] Communication module 146

[0186] Remote computing device 148

[0187] Control Program 150

[0188] The processor 152 of the remote computing device

[0189] Remote computing device memory 154

[0190] Remote computing device input / output (I / O) interface 156

[0191] Remote computing device bus 158

[0192] Input device 160 of remote computing device

[0193] Output device 162 of remote computing device

[0194] Remote computing device communication module 164

[0195] Computer program for remote computing device 166

[0196] Network 168

[0197] Position sensor 170

[0198] Photodetector 172

[0199] Transmitter 174

[0200] Legs 176

[0201] Main body 178

[0202] Integrated particle sensing module 180

[0203] Dew point sensor 182

[0204] Temperature sensor 183

[0205] Halo 184

[0206] Temperature sensor 185

[0207] Power button 186

[0208] Increase fan speed button 188

[0209] Reduce fan speed button 190

[0210] Configurable buttons 192

[0211] Screen layer 194

[0212] HEPA filter layer 196

[0213] Disinfection layer 198

[0214] Activated carbon layer 200

[0215] Base cap 202

[0216] Base handle 204

[0217] The outer edge 206 of the base cover

[0218] The inner wall 208 of the base cover

[0219] Raised center portion 210

[0220] Head cover 212

[0221] Top handle 214

[0222] Center hole 216 of the head cover

[0223] The outer wall of the head cover 218

[0224] Inlet vent 220 of lower housing portion

[0225] Seal 222

[0226] Server 224

[0227] System 226

Claims

1. An air filtering and processing device, the air filtering and processing device comprising: a housing having an air inlet structure configured to receive ambient air, an air outlet structure configured to release a first portion of filtered air, and an air passageway between the air inlet structure and the air outlet structure; a fan arranged to force air through the air passage between the air inlet structure and the air outlet structure; a controller configured to control the fan; a filter arranged to filter air passing through the air passage; a receiver positioned toward the air outlet structure relative to the filter having the treatment composition positioned therein, wherein a vaporizable vapor associated with the treatment composition can accumulate in a headspace of the receiver; and an entrainment structure in fluid communication with the air passageway and having one or more entrainment outlets for releasing a second portion of the filtered air, wherein the entrainment structure is selectively movable relative to the housing to control an amount of the vaporizable vapor entrained by the second portion of the filtered air exiting the one or more entrainment outlets.

2. An air filtration and treatment device according to claim 1, wherein the housing includes an exhaust structure, which is connected to and capable of rotating relative to the entrainment structure, and wherein the entrainment structure is configured to rotate relative to the exhaust structure to adjust the amount of the second portion of the filtered air entering the head space, thereby controlling the amount of the evaporable vapor entrained by the second portion of the filtered air leaving the one or more entrainment outlets.

3. An air filtration and treatment device according to claim 2, wherein the exhaust structure includes a plurality of inlet holes connected to the head space fluid, the plurality of inlet holes enabling the second portion of the filtered air to be directed within the head space, wherein the entrainment structure includes a wall having one or more gaps, wherein the entrainment structure is configured to rotate relative to the exhaust structure to adjust the alignment of the one or more gaps with the plurality of inlet holes, thereby controlling the amount of the evaporable vapor entrained by the second portion of the filtered air exiting the one or more entrainment outlets.

4. An air filtering and treatment device according to claim 3, wherein the exhaust structure includes a channel for accommodating a biasing member therein and a plurality of stepped recesses, wherein a neck portion of the entrainment structure has a protrusion that is receivable in the biasing member, is movable along the biasing member and is biased by the biasing member into engagement with one of the stepped recesses, wherein a force applied to the entrainment structure by a user along the longitudinal axis of the device causes the protrusion to disengage from the corresponding stepped recess, thereby allowing the entrainment structure to rotate relative to the housing and allowing the protrusion to engage with different stepped recesses, thereby controlling the amount of the evaporable vapor entrained by the second portion of the filtered air exiting the one or more entrainment outlets.

5. An air filtering and treatment device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein each inlet aperture is diametrically offset relative to the remainder of the inlet apertures.

6. An air filtration and treatment device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the entrainment structure is configured to substantially enclose the receiver within the housing, wherein the entrainment structure is removable from the exhaust structure of the housing to allow access to the receiver.

7. An air filtration and treatment device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a position sensor in communication with the controller, the position sensor being configured to sense a position of the entrainment structure relative to the housing, wherein the controller is configured to receive a position signal from the position sensor and facilitate outputting the position of the entrainment assembly to the user.

8. The air filtration and treatment device of claim 7, wherein the position sensor comprises one or more photodetectors, wherein the air filtration and treatment device comprises one or more emitters, wherein the one or more photodetectors are configured to sense the presence or absence of light emitted by the one or more emitters to detect the position of the entrainment assembly.

9. An air filtration and treatment device according to claim 8, wherein the one or more photodetectors are infrared photodetectors and the one or more emitters are infrared emitters.

10. An air filtering and treatment device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the air outlet structure includes a plurality of blades, wherein at least some of the blades have deflection members extending therefrom to deflect the second portion of the filtered air radially inward within the top space of the receiver so that the evaporable vapor is entrained with the second portion of the filtered air when leaving the one or more entrainment outlets.

11. An air filtering and treatment device according to claim 10, wherein each deflection member extends substantially perpendicularly from a corresponding blade.

12. An air filtration and treatment device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising a force sensor in communication with the controller, wherein the force sensor is configured to detect the presence of a container containing the treatment composition within the receiver and generate a force signal indicative of the presence of the container within the receiver, wherein the controller is configured to operate the fan in response to receiving the force signal indicative of the presence of the container within the receiver.

13. An air filtration and treatment device according to claim 12, wherein the force signal indicates the amount of force sensed by the force sensor, wherein the controller is configured to determine the amount of treatment composition remaining in the container based on the amount of force sensed by the force sensor, and facilitate outputting the amount of treatment composition remaining in the container to the user.

14. The air filtering and treatment device according to any one of claims 1 to 13 further includes an integrated sensing module, the integrated sensing module including a fan and a particle sensor, wherein the particle sensor is configured to sense the particle count of the ambient air drawn through the integrated sensing module by the fan and facilitate output of the particle count to the user.

15. An air filtration and treatment device according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the housing includes a door movable between an open position and a closed position to access, position and replace the filter.

16. An air filtering and treatment device according to claim 15, wherein the base has a convex surface that is at least partially positionable within a recess disposed at an end of the filter to position the filter within the housing.

17. An air filtration and treatment device according to any one of claims 1 to 16, further comprising input buttons for operating the device according to customized settings, wherein the controller is configured to: receiving customized settings data indicating customized settings for operating the device; storing in a memory an association between the customized setting and the button; receiving a signal indicating that the button is selected by the user; as well as The fan is operated according to the customized settings stored in the memory.

18. A system, comprising: An air filtration and treatment device constructed as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the air filtration and treatment device further comprises a communication module; and A computer program executable by a processor of a remote computing device, wherein execution of the computer program by the processor configures the processor to: receiving, from the communications module of the air filtration and treatment device, position sensor data indicative of the position of the entrainment structure of the air filtration and treatment device; as well as An output device controlling the remote computing device indicates the sensed position of the entrainment assembly to a user.

19. A system, comprising: An air filtration and treatment device constructed according to claim 13, wherein the air filtration and treatment device further comprises a communication module; and A computer program executable by a processor of a remote computing device, wherein execution of the computer program by the processor configures the processor to: receiving, from the communication module, force sensor data indicative of a force sensed by the force sensor; as well as An output device controlling the remote computing device indicates to the user the amount of treatment composition remaining in the container.

20. A system, comprising: An air filtering and treatment device constructed according to claim 17; and A computer program executable by a processor of a remote computing device, wherein execution of the computer program by the processor configures the processor to: receiving customized setting data from the user via the remote computing device; as well as The customized setting data is transmitted to a communication module of the air filtration and treatment device for storage in memory in association with the button.

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