Wearable device for treating breathing air

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device adapted to be worn on the head of a user and provided with a respiratory air purification and treatment function, in particular such a device in which the purification function is ensured by leaving the user's face substantially free.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a device adapted to be worn on the head of a user and provided with a breathing air purification function, in particular such a device in which the purification function is ensured by leaving the user's face substantially free. [Background technology]

[0002] Devices of the type indicated above are known, comprising a conduit that develops at the side or bottom of the user's head in such a way that it delivers a stream of purified air towards the user's nose-cheek area for self-inhalation, in a structure that can be generally described as annular. For this purpose, the conduit is adapted to be placed in the rear area of ​​the user's head and is mechanically and pneumatically attached to and interconnected with an air treatment unit comprising air flow propulsion means having an impeller member and air treatment means adapted to perform the function of purifying the air flow. Some of the known solutions involve leaving the user's face substantially open and free, the conduit terminating in an opening that can be positioned at the side of the aforementioned nose-cheek area. Among them, for example, the devices shown in WO 2015 / 140776, US 10821255 and CN 106669056 are worth mentioning.

[0003] This type of solution allows the device to be reasonably effective in ensuring a certain amount of protection from air pollution (ensuring that the user can inhale a greater amount of treated / filtered air than normal air and / or normal air of the external environment), while protecting the associated ability to keep the face clean, and clearly achieving good wearing comfort without discomfort that would prevent its continuous or long-term use.

[0004] The function of suction of exhaled air and the resulting treatment / filtration can also be achieved, but this tends to be achieved in the context of devices covering the nose-cheek area, such as the device that is the subject of document WO 2013 / 082650 A. In the latter case, these systems are therefore hardly acceptable except in special circumstances and for limited periods of time.

[0005] Generally, the forced ventilation systems employed in these known devices are in each case such that they create an open circuit in which a significant portion of the purified air is dissipated into the environment, and this filtration system has the burden of continuously generating new treated air starting from completely untreated ambient air.

[0006] In addition to this, the treatment and / or filtration units employed in such systems, although they may in certain cases exhibit acceptable performance, are usually subject to periodic replacement of filters, cartridges or the like, or in any case subject the user to frequent and tedious, but also especially costly, maintenance operations. Some of the known devices are in any case relatively bulky and heavy, which is therefore unlikely to encourage their use. Summary of the Invention

[0007] In view of this state of the art, the Applicant has now developed a wearable respiratory air purifying device of the type adapted to be worn on the head, which, unlike those made available by the prior art, achieves all of the following objectives simultaneously: -High filtration or purification efficiency with low energy consumption and reduced maintenance of filtration / treatment systems; - Comfortable wearing due to the freedom of the nose-cheek area, so that it can be used continuously, without compromising social and relational activities and without the risk of hypoxia induced by any kind of mask system; -Effective against both pollutants and infectious agents; - Small, lightweight and ergonomic.

[0008] These and other subsidiary objects are achieved by a wearable respiratory air treatment device, the essential features of which are defined in the appended claim 1. Other important additional features are the subject of the dependent claims. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] The features and advantages of the wearable respiratory air treatment device of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments thereof, given by way of example and not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an axonometric view of a wearable device of the present invention in a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] 2 shows a schematic diagram of the device of FIG. 1 worn on a user's head. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is an exploded view, also in axial projection, of the device in the first embodiment of FIG. 2; [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a top view of the device of FIG. 3 with parts separated at different levels to highlight the air circuit. [Diagram 5] 4 and 5. Section VV of FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the device with a portion of FIG. 6 omitted. [Figure 6] 6 is a cross-sectional view of the device of FIG. 6, with a portion thereof omitted, taken along section VI-VI of FIG. 4. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional axonometric view of an air handling unit of the device in FIG. 6. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is an axonometric view of a wearable device of the present invention in a second embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is an exploded view, also in axial projection, of the device in the second embodiment of FIG. 8. [Figure 10] 10 is a cross-sectional view of the device of FIGS. 8 and 9 taken on the general development plane of the device. FIG. [Figure 11] 11 is a cross-sectional view of the device of the second embodiment taken along the section XI-XI of FIG. 10. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] With reference to this figure, the device of the present invention has a substantially annular structure adapted to be worn on a user's head C (FIG. 2) while leaving the face substantially free.

[0011] The device comprises at least one air suction conduit 1, 101 extending between an air suction inlet 1a, 101a for treated air containing airborne contaminant particles, which is positioned near the nose-cheek region of the user when the device is worn, and an air outlet 1b, 101b, which is positioned in the area near the user's head (numbers refer to both embodiments).

[0012] At least one exhaust conduit 2, 102 is then positioned near the nose-cheek region (inclined in the opposite direction relative to the side facing the suction inlet 1a, 101a) and develops between a post-processing air exhaust outlet 2a, 102a along the nose-cheek region and an inlet 2b, 102b adapted to be positioned in the rear region of the head. The cross section of the exhaust conduit is preferably smaller, at least at the end with the outlet gap, than the corresponding cross section of the suction conduit (the end with the suction inlet gap) in order to facilitate priming of the air.

[0013] The two conduits 1, 2, 101, 102 are mechanically and pneumatically connected (with the outlet of the suction conduit and the inlet of the exhaust conduit, respectively) to an air treatment unit 3, 103, which is then adapted to be placed in the rear region of the head.

[0014] The treatment unit 3, 103 is equipped with air flow driving means for promoting air flow from the suction conduit to the exhaust conduit, which in effect realizes a semi-closed loop circuit, whereby air is sucked from the nose-cheek area, passes through the treatment unit and is exhausted back to said area. The only opening is represented by the separation space between the outlet-inlet of each conduit at the user's nose-cheek area, which is permeated with treated / healthy air available for the user's inhalation. However, due to the way the inlet-outlet gaps are positioned, what is gradually sucked back by the suction conduit is the majority of the treated air expelled by the exhaust conduit, and in this sense it can be said to be a circuit close to semi-closed.

[0015] The treatment unit then comprises the actual treatment / filtration system 5, 105, which will be discussed in more detail immediately below, and an energy supply system such as a micromotor 6, 16 powered by a rechargeable battery for moving the impeller members and supplying energy to the treatment / filtration system. Wiring, switches and generally those generally required to ensure the operation of the simple electrical components employed in the device are not shown, since they are obviously natural and obviously implementable. For example and in particular, obvious means are provided for acting on the operation of the motor and / or the cross-section of the conduits to regulate or portion the flow rate and / or speed of the airflow within the pre-established interventions in order to adapt the device to its own needs.

[0016] Also according to the invention, the treatment / filtration system comprises a tubular chamber 7, 107 as described above, which is for example, although not necessarily, conical, or more suitably frustoconical, defining an inner surface 7a, 107a extending along an axis Z, Y' between a first end 7b, 107b having a smaller diameter and in pneumatic communication with the outlet of the suction conduit, and a second end 7c, 107c having a larger diameter, in pneumatic communication with the said inlet of the discharge conduit and thus influenced by the circulation promoted by the air flow propulsion means. Air flow directing means, adapted to promote swirling circulation within the chamber itself, are also attached to the chamber.

[0017] According to a preferred solution, without excluding other possible solutions, the propulsion means and the means for directing the air flow are made by the same part, an impeller member 4, 104, advantageously arranged coaxially with the chamber so as to shield the inside of the chamber, having an axis of rotation Z, Y', and configured with suitable blades such as a centrifugal impeller.

[0018] A water reservoir 8, 108 is located near a first end 7b, 107b communicating with the chamber and having a smaller diameter. Said reservoir is influenced by a water sprayer means 9, 109, for example a means for stirring the water contained in the reservoir, configured to facilitate the discharge of the sprayed water entering the chamber through the first end, whereby the sprayed water is surrounded by the air to be treated, entering the chamber through the first end, and by the effect of a swirling circulation, for example promoted by an impeller, a deposit of water carrying said contaminant particles tends to form on the inner surface of the chamber and to return to the reservoir, from which the contaminant particles can be periodically discarded, together with the refilling / exchange of the water, thanks to the reversible connection between the reservoir and the rest of the unit.

[0019] This is generally described with more particular reference to the embodiment options, and therefore here to the first embodiment, and the associated figures 1 to 7, in which the processing unit 3 is arranged with the axis of rotation Z of the impeller and the axis of development Z of the chambers, arranged orthogonal to the plane XY of the general development of the device, i.e. the plane defined by the layout of the conduits and which, in the arrangement of use of the device, corresponds to the transverse plane of the head. In practice, in such an arrangement of use, axis Z is substantially vertical when the user is in an upright position.

[0020] In this case, the processing unit 3 comprises a box-like body 31 for containing and supporting the other components, defined by a generally disk-shaped lower part 31a and an upper part 31b, with a larger cutting surface for the lower part and developing with polar symmetry with respect to the axis Z. The suction conduit 1 and the discharge conduit 2 engage at substantially tangential angles in the lower and upper parts of the body, respectively.

[0021] The lower part or volute 31a is located perpendicular to the axis Z and is closed at the bottom by a permeable diaphragm 32, which we will return to later, thus separating the inside of the box-like body 31 and the lower reservoir 8 and the parts between which a reversible connection can advantageously work, for example with screws 32c to 8b with suitable seals (not shown), as described above. The lower part 31a also houses in the middle, for example just a conical sleeve 7, which materializes said chamber so that its second end 7c (in this case the upper one) adjoins the upper part or volute 31b. The lower part 31a develops around the sleeve 7 a lower toroidal channel 33 for distributing the air supplied by the suction conduit 1 around the bottom of the sleeve itself. The sleeve with its first end 7 b is spaced relative to the diaphragm 32 to form an airflow passage 34 between the toroidal channel and the inside of the sleeve or chamber 7 .

[0022] The upper portion 31b centrally houses the centrifugal impeller 4 which, as described above, is located at the second end 7c of the conical sleeve 7 and defines an upper toroidal channel 35 around the centrifugal impeller 4 which radially distributes the air and directs it towards the discharge conduit 2.

[0023] Returning to the permeable diaphragm 32, in the illustrated embodiment, it has a main partition 32a distributed with seats 32c housing individual stirring elements in the form of a porous piezoelectric foil 9 on which the aforementioned atomizer means are advantageously made. In this embodiment solution, water is fed to the foil, which, by vibrating at a suitable frequency, is responsible for the stirring and subsequent diffusion of the water sprayed from its first end 7b into the chamber 7, advantageously making use of the phenomenon of capillarity rising from the inside of the reservoir through ducts 37 that penetrate the partition 32a, advantageously provided with holes 32d under the seats 32c. These ducts are embodied by bodies of known structure, for example made from a porous or sponge-like material such as cellulose acetate, forming small channels precisely suitable for generating the physical phenomenon of water rising by capillarity. The nebulizer means may include other types of means adapted to produce comparable results in the formation of an aerosol, going beyond the vibration solution of this possible embodiment, which, as mentioned above, has the advantage of simplicity and efficiency.

[0024] The diaphragm 32 is completed by a cover 32e superimposed on the partition 32a, which closes the seat 32c of the piezoelectric foil and has at its coincidence a first distribution of holes 32f that allow the sprayed water to pass towards the chamber. The plate-like cover 32e also has a second distribution of holes 32g that correspond to the passages 32h of the partition 32a, into which individual discharge pipes 36 penetrate and extend from the first end 7b of the conical sleeve 7, which is bent inwards to form a peripheral shower 7d that has the function of collecting the water mixed with impurities that falls along the inner surface 7a, allowing the water to settle and return to the reservoir by communication between the shower and the discharge pipes 36.

[0025] The device may further comprise other treatment systems such as one or more UVC emitting LED strips, in which case the lower annular strip 38a in the reservoir 8 and the upper spiral strip 38b around the sleeve 7 all provide precisely the germicidal action that can be achieved by suitably tuned radiation emission of the aforementioned types, as the inventors have recognized.

[0026] The device described so far therefore operates as follows, with particular reference to Figures 4 and 6, where the arrows diagram the air and water flows: Once worn on the head and with the conduits in place, the outlet gap 2a of the exhaust conduit 2 and the inlet gap 1a of the suction conduit 1 are located in the nose-cheek region and define an exchange volume V, which accurately represents the air exchange volume as it faces the respiratory cavity affected by the pneumatic action of the device and surrounded by the inhalation and exhalation activity of the user.

[0027] During inspiration, the incoming flow taken from volume V is replenished by air coming from the surrounding environment. During the expiration phase, the breath joins the flow entering the device. In this way, the device repeatedly processes and purifies large volumes of air containing the same exhaled breath, increasing its cleanliness.

[0028] After the passage of the air to be treated, containing pollutants in suspension, such as in the form of fine particles, ash, volatile matter, etc., the passage of which is promoted by the impeller 4, the air then enters the suction conduit 1 through the inlet or suction inlet gap 1a (arrow A in FIG. 4), reaches the lower toroidal channel 33 of the lower part, distributes itself at the bottom of the sleeve 7 and is sucked axially into it through its first end 7b (arrow B in FIG. 6). Here, the air surrounds the atomized water rising from the diaphragm 32 due to the vibrations of the piezoelectric foil 9 (schematically represented by the conical area C in FIGS. 6 and 7). The action of the vortex induced by the impeller by suction on the mixture of air and polluting particles / dust is favorable for agglomerating these particles in suspension with the microdroplets of water generated by the foil. This mixture is drawn along its axis by whirling circulation in the direction of the impeller in the chamber defined by the sleeve (its axial component is represented by the arrow D in FIG. 6).

[0029] The swirling flow takes on a strong centrifugal component by approaching the second end 7c of the chamber 7 (arrow E in the same FIG. 6). The tangential velocity path of this mixture increases as it approaches the impeller mouth, resulting in an increased centrifugal effect. Thus, near the mouth of the impeller 4, the droplets and entrained material tend to deposit on the inner face 7a surface, while air enters the impeller blade compartment.

[0030] Due to the dispersive diameter shape of the surface and the pressure gradient created in the chamber, this substantially liquid deposit tends to descend towards the first end 7b, from where it collects in a shower 7d and passes through the discharge pipe 36 (arrow F in FIG. 6) to the bottom of the reservoir 8, where the contaminant components removed from the air stream also accumulate. The impurities collected in the reservoir that deposits at the bottom can be removed by unscrewing the reservoir, an operation that also gradually replenishes the consumed water. The treated air is distributed downstream of the impeller into the upper toroidal channel 35, from where it enters the discharge conduit 2 (arrow G in FIG. 4) and rejoins the exchange volume V outside the device, laterally surrounding the mouth and nose of the user, who benefits from the inhalation of mostly treated and purified air.

[0031] The device thus ensures a continuous inflow of air, thus eliminating all the problems associated with the hypoxia phenomenon caused by conventional filter masks. The continuous circulating flow allows a large amount of air to be (re)treated several times (the proportion of already treated air can be as high as 85-90% of the gradually inhaled air), thus improving the level of air purification. The configuration of the device allows the front of the face to be left unobstructed, guaranteeing absolute advantages in relational / social terms. By appropriately sizing the impeller and the passage area of ​​the air circuit, it is possible to ensure a surplus volumetric supply of exhausted treated air (up to 60 liters of air / min) and a high flow velocity (e.g. about 10 m / s), this requirement guaranteeing the highest quality of the air inhaled by the user.

[0032] Suitable aromatic or even medicinal substances can be dissolved in the water reservoir and, once sprayed, can be inhaled by the user, providing further benefits. More generally, it should be pointed out that when referring to water, in the context of this disclosure, it is intended to indicate the simplest liquid that tends to be suitable for use, but does not exclude the possibility that other liquid substances may be used to the extent suitable to ensure the operation of the device.

[0033] Obviously, the device does not require a filter that would need to be replaced periodically once the filter reaches saturation. The use of water (preferably distilled water) to perform the filtration operation has no environmental impact and simply requires refilling the water after a certain time depending on the conditions of use.

[0034] The conduit is made in whole or in part from a material or technology suitable for providing it with an appropriate resilience, possibly even a certain degree of elasticity, in order on the one hand to ensure the necessary deformability for wearing, and on the other hand to ensure compatibility with the user's appearance and a contextually stable and at the same time comfortable wearing. However, it is not excluded that the device can be equipped with accessories or aids, such as pads, head support straps, etc., to further improve comfort and stability. Likewise, the conceptual structure of the device can be integrated into a more wrapped structure (helmet or similar).

[0035] The structure of the treatment unit can be easily made with detachable parts to facilitate cleaning with running water and suitable cleaning agents to remove any impurities that may remain in the conduits before subsequent use. The adoption of UVC LED technology enhances the sterilization function to combat microorganisms and viruses that are potentially dangerous to human health.

[0036] The power battery to provide adequate autonomy for the motor, the atomizer means and any UVC LED means can be rechargeable according to standard technologies, for example via a USB connector. The motor can be, for example, a simple 6V micromotor adapted to generate an impeller rotation speed of 12 / 13000 rpm. Depending on the embodiment, other technologies or speed ranges may be more appropriate.

[0037] A person skilled in the art will have no difficulty in implementing any sensors capable of monitoring in real time the quality of the treated air, the filling of the reservoir and other control parameters of the device. These sensors can finally, by equipping the device with the appropriate electronic and communication components, interact with a dedicated application developed for a smartphone, which allows the device to be managed through the application itself and to monitor personal parameters, for example those related to the respiration factor. Subject to the user's authorization, it may also be possible to carry out real-time air quality mapping within a defined area by sharing certain data collected through the network.

[0038] In addition to what has been described with respect to the first embodiment, it is evident that the invention can be reduced to be implemented with different configuration solutions. Of these, in the second embodiment, which is the particular subject of figures 8 to 11 to which reference is made below, and in the processing unit 103, the common axis of the impeller and of the chamber, in this case indicated by Y', lies in the plane X'Y' of the general development of the device already defined above, or in any case is parallel to this plane. In practice, in the configuration of use, with the user in an upright position, the axis Y' is substantially horizontal and points in the lateral direction.

[0039] Thus, the first end with smaller diameter 107b and the second end with larger diameter 107c (defining the inner surface 107a) of the chamber 107 are again directed towards respective sides of the user's head when the device is worn, and the suction conduit 101 and the exhaust conduit 102 meet here at a substantially (co)axial angle. An airflow therefore occurs with the main component remaining essentially axial.

[0040] These different configurations result in several different construction options for this embodiment, which are explained in the remainder of the following in relation to a construction that assumes a centrifugal impeller member for promoting and directing the flow (although this construction means is in principle not the only one possible even for the embodiment considered here).

[0041] Concerning the liquid stirring / supply function, in this case between the outlet 101b of the suction channel and the first end 107b of the chamber 107, a cylindrical tubular manifold 131 may be provided for entering the chamber, having an internal diameter at the first end 107b substantially corresponding to the internal diameter of the chamber 107. The inner surface of the manifold 131 defines seats 132 for accommodating the individual piezoelectric foils 109, which are supplied with water by capillary ducts 137a, 137b, 137c extending between the individual seats 132 and the reservoirs 108 configured here as radial extensions of the manifold in the lower region (i.e. located below when the device is mounted). For this purpose, the ducts in this case have different developments: a first duct 137a supplies the liquid to the foil furthest from the reservoir, having in particular an elongated arch-shaped development along the circumference of the manifold, which is provided with suitable ribs 131a for that purpose, and two other ducts 137b, 137c have substantially radial developments for transporting the liquid to the foil closest to the reservoir.

[0042] As mentioned above, the lower radial extension forming the reservoir 108 may advantageously have a small cavity 108a at its bottom, which advantageously allows the collection of impurities.

[0043] With reference to the outlet region of the purified air flow, an outlet manifold 139 from the chamber is arranged between the second end 107c of the chamber and the inlet 102b of the exhaust conduit 102 and comprises, successively following the axial path of the air flow, a cylindrical segment 139b immediately downstream of the chamber, having a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the chamber at the second end, and a conical segment 139c narrowing the passage cross-section to the cross-section of the exhaust conduit.

[0044] More specifically, the cylindrical segment 139b is connected to the chamber 107 by a connecting cup 139c in which the centrifugal impeller 104 is centrally housed and which defines a toroidal channel 135a around the periphery for distributing and directing the exiting air. Downstream of the impeller, and therefore in the cylindrical segment 139b, there is a rotor 110 which is driven in rotation together with the impeller 104 and which is obviously coaxial with it. The rotor 110 is configured with axial blades so as to further promote the flow from the toroidal channel 135a in the axial direction and to inject this flow into the annular cavity 135b, which again in the cylindrical segment 139b surrounds the housing section for the motor 106 (shown only diagrammatically in Figures 10 and 11). The stator elements (not shown here) are generally useful for transporting circulation axially between the impeller and the rotor, as would be apparent to one skilled in the art.

[0045] Finally, the cone segment 139c has the role of conveying the air flow up to the inlet 102b of the exhaust conduit 102. A UVC-emitting LED strip is or can be provided in this embodiment as well in the form of a first arc strip 138a in the reservoir 8 and an upper spiral strip 138b around the sleeve 107. Finally, the drawing of this embodiment illustrates a deployment of the conduit assuming at least a resilient deformable or articulated central area to improve the fit to the user's head, as already generally provided above and obviously usable also in the context of the first embodiment, a mesh filter 111 is also represented that can block the inlet 101a of the suction conduit.

[0046] Again, following the path of the air to be treated, the air then enters the suction conduit 101 (arrow A' in FIG. 10) and reaches axially directly at the bottom of the sleeve 107, passing through its first end 107b and being drawn axially into it (arrow B' in FIGS. 10 and 11). Here, the air surrounds the water atomized by the piezoelectric foil 109 (conical area C' in FIG. 11). Again, it is the swirling motion induced by the impeller that favors the coalescence of the suspended particles by the water microdroplets generated by the foil. This mixture is drawn in the chamber along its axis towards the impeller by a whirling circulation (its axial component is represented by arrow D' in FIG. 11).

[0047] Towards the second end 107c of the chamber 107, the centrifugal component of the flow (arrow E') pushes the droplets and entrained material out and deposits them on the surface of the inner face 107a, while air enters the impeller compartment. In this case, it is primarily the pressure gradient generated in the diverging chamber that draws the liquid deposits towards the first end 107b and promotes their accumulation in the reservoir 108 (arrow F').

[0048] The treated air is distributed downstream of the impeller in the toroidal channel 135a, from where it passes through the blades of the axial rotor 110 into the cavity 135b of the cylindrical segment of the manifold 139, where it is again distributed axially as indicated by arrow G', and then directed into the conical segment 139c (arrow H'), and then into the discharge conduit 102 (arrow I').

[0049] This second embodiment also obviously does not exhaust the configuration options with which the invention can be put into practice, so that, similar to what has been described above with reference to the preferred embodiment, other embodiments can be understood to lie within the scope of protection of the appended claims.

Claims

1. 1. A wearable air treatment device having a generally annular structure configured to be worn on a head of a user without substantially obstructing a face of the user, the device comprising: at least one air suction conduit (1) extending between an intake (1a) for treated air containing suspended pollutant particles, adapted to be placed near the nose-cheek area of ​​said user, and an outlet (1b) for air, adapted to be placed in the rear area of ​​said user's head; at least one air exhaust conduit (2) extending between a treated air exhaust outlet (2a), adapted to be placed near the nose-cheek area of ​​the user, and an inlet (2b), adapted to be placed in the rear area of ​​the user's head; an air treatment unit (3) connected to said conduits (1, 2) and in air communication with said conduits (1, 2) between the outlet (1 b) of the suction conduit (1) and the inlet (2 b) of the exhaust conduit (2), said unit (3) being adapted to be placed in the rear region of the user's head, said unit (3) comprising: air flow propulsion means from the suction conduit (1) to the exhaust conduit (2); air treatment means (5) arranged to receive air to be treated from the outlet (1 b) of the suction conduit (1) and to return the treated air to the inlet (2 b) of the exhaust conduit (2); and energy supply means (6) for said air flow propulsion means and for said air treatment means (5), The air treatment means (5) a tubular chamber (7) defining an inner surface (7a) of said chamber and extending along its axis (Z) between a first end (7b) of smaller diameter and in pneumatic communication with said outlet (1b) of said suction conduit (1) and a second end (7c) of larger diameter and in pneumatic communication with said inlet (2b) of said discharge conduit (2); - air flow directing means configured to promote swirling circulation within said chamber (7); at least one water reservoir (8) communicating with said tubular chamber (7) and located near said first end (7b); - atomizer means (9) attached to said reservoir (8) and configured to expel atomized water to facilitate its entry into said chamber (7) through said first end (7b); said discharge of the atomized water is surrounded by the air to be treated entering said chamber (7) from said first end (7b) and, by the effect of said swirling circulation, a deposit of water carrying said contaminant particles is formed adhering to the surface of said inner side (7a) of said chamber (7) and tends to return to said reservoir (8); The wearable air treatment device.

2. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said air flow propulsion means comprises at least one impeller member (4).

3. 3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the air flow directing means is formed by the at least one impeller member (4) configured as a centrifugal impeller and supported coaxially within the tubular chamber (7).

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the chamber (7) has a frustoconical shape.

5. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said sprayer means comprises water shaking means in said at least one reservoir (8).

6. 6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the water agitating means comprises one or more piezoelectric elements (9).

7. 7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the one or more piezoelectric elements comprise one or more foils (9) made of a porous material, and the sprayer means further comprises a capillary duct (37) extending between the reservoir (8) and the foil (9) for supplying water from the reservoir (8) to the foil (9).

8. 8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the capillary duct (37) is provided by one or more bodies made of a porous or sponge-like material.

9. 5. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising one or more UVC radiation emitting LEDs adapted to perform a germicidal action on the water at least in the reservoir.

10. 7. The device according to claim 6, comprising at least a first LED strip (38a) arranged at the height of the reservoir and a second spiral LED strip (38b) extending around the chamber (7).

11. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the conduits (1, 2) comprise one or more resilient, deformable or articulated sections to improve fit to the user's head.

12. 5. The device according to claim 1, comprising a suction conduit (1) and a discharge conduit (2) lying substantially in the plane of the general development of the device (X, Y) and corresponding to the transverse plane of the user's head in the position of use of the device.

13. 13. The device according to claim 12, wherein said chamber (7) is arranged with said chamber-axis (Z) perpendicular to said general development plane (X, Y) of said device.

14. When dependent on claim 3, the treatment unit comprises a box-like housing body (31) defined by a lower part (31a) and an upper part (31b), both of which are generally disk-shaped and extend with substantially polar symmetry with respect to the chamber axis (Z), the suction conduit (1) and the discharge conduit (2) are connected to the body (31) in the lower part (31a) and in the upper part (31b), respectively, substantially according to a tangential angle, the chamber (7) being formed by a sleeve housed in the lower part (31a), so that the second end (7c) of the chamber is adjacent to the upper part (31b), and the lower part (31a) is a permeable support for the sprayer means (9).

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the lower part (31a) is closed at its base by a flexible diaphragm (32) separating the inside of the body (31) from the reservoir (8), the lower part (31a) forms a lower toroidal channel (33) for distributing the air supplied by the suction conduit (1) around the bottom of the sleeve (7) and towards the inside of the chamber to a passage between the first end (7b) of the chamber and the diaphragm (32), and the upper part (31b) supports the energy supply means (6), centrally houses the impeller member (4) and forms an upper toroidal channel (35) for radial distribution of the air around the impeller member (4) and supplies the air in the direction of the discharge conduit (2).

15. 15. A device according to claim 14, when dependent on claim 7, in which the permeable diaphragm (32) provides a distribution of seats (32c) for accommodating the one or more piezoelectric foils (9) and a distribution of holes (32d, 32f, 32g, 32h) for the capillary duct (37) and for an outlet tube (36) extending from the first end (7b) of the sleeve, the first end (7b) of the sleeve being folded inwards to form a peripheral gutter (7d) adapted to collect water mixed with impurities falling along the inner surface (7a) of the chamber (7).

16. 13. The device according to claim 12, wherein said chamber (7) is arranged with said chamber-axis (Z') parallel to or lying in the plane of said general development (X', Y') of said device.

17. 17. The device according to claim 16, when dependent on claim 4, wherein a chamber intake tubular manifold (131) is arranged between the outlet of the suction channel (101b) and the first end (107b) of the chamber (107), the manifold having an inner diameter at the first end (107b) substantially corresponding to the inner diameter of the chamber (107), and on the inner surface of the manifold seats (132) are formed to accommodate individual piezoelectric foils (109), the piezoelectric foils (109) are supplied with water by the capillary ducts (137, 137b, 137c) extending between the individual seats (132) and the reservoir (108), the reservoir (108) being configured as a radial extension of the manifold in a lower area.

18. 18. The device according to claim 17, wherein the radial extension forming the reservoir (108) has a cavity (108a) at its bottom which aids in the collection of the contaminant particles.

19. A chamber discharge manifold (139) is arranged between the second end (107c) of the chamber and the inlet (102b) of the discharge conduit (102), and comprises, in succession according to the axial path of the air flow, a cylindrical segment (139b) immediately downstream of the chamber, having a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the second end (107c) of the chamber (107), and a conical segment (139c) narrowing the air passage area to that of the discharge conduit (102), the cylindrical segment (139b) being connected to the chamber (107) by a connecting cup (139a) in which the centrifugal impeller member (104) is housed.

17. The device according to claim 16, further comprising: a rotor (110) for axially promoting a flow from the toroidal channel (135a) and, still inside the cylindrical segment (139b), for directing said flow into an annular gap (135b) surrounding a housing for the energy supply means (106).

18. The device according to claim 16, further comprising: a rotor (110) for axially promoting a flow from the toroidal channel (135a) and, still inside the cylindrical segment (139b), for directing said flow into an annular gap (135b) surrounding a housing for the energy supply means (106).

20. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein at least the reservoir (8) is supported detachably from the remainder of the device.

21. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said energy supply means comprises a motor (6) and a rechargeable battery means.

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