Portable air caring apparatus

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing portable air caring apparatuses face issues with filter contamination due to the lack of a separate sanitizing apparatus, leading to degraded air cleaning performance and increased noise and vibration when mounted in small spaces like cup holders.

Innovation Solution

A portable air caring apparatus with a sanitizing portion installed between the filter portion and the fan module portion to sanitize the filter, minimizing airflow resistance and preventing sanitizing light exposure to the outside.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a separate sanitizing apparatus is installed inside the portable air caring apparatus, then the filter portion can be sanitized, but the sizes of the filter portion and fan assembly become smaller and air caring ability is degraded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilter sanitationVSAvoidair caring ability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The sanitizing apparatus is nested within the housing structure of the portable air caring apparatus, specifically positioned to utilize the existing internal space between the inlet and outlet. This allows the sanitizing function to be integrated without requiring additional external space, thereby preventing reduction in the sizes of the filter portion and fan assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The sanitizing apparatus is positioned in a location that utilizes the vertical or lateral dimension within the housing, rather than occupying horizontal space that would reduce the filter and fan assembly sizes. This spatial arrangement allows all components to coexist without compromising air caring ability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If a separate fixing bracket is additionally installed inside the case to fix the sanitizing apparatus, then the sanitizing apparatus can be secured, but the sizes of the filter portion and fan assembly become smaller and air caring ability is degraded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesanitizing apparatus fixationVSAvoidair caring ability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The fixing function is merged with the existing housing structure. The housing itself is designed to accommodate and secure the sanitizing apparatus, eliminating the need for a separate fixing bracket. This integration prevents additional components from occupying space needed by the filter portion and fan assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of manufacture

If the sanitizing apparatus is fixed to the fan module portion, then the sanitizing apparatus can be installed, but the sanitizing light interferes with the filter case and sanitization of the filter portion is not performed properly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesanitizing apparatus installationVSAvoidfilter sanitization effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The sanitizing apparatus is extracted from the fan module portion and repositioned to a separate location within the housing. This separation eliminates the interference between the sanitizing light and the filter case, allowing the filter portion to be properly sanitized without obstruction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Ease of manufacture

If the sanitizing apparatus is installed at the fan module portion, then the sanitizing apparatus can be installed, but frictional resistance between the sanitizing apparatus and air increases and air blowing ability is degraded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesanitizing apparatus installationVSAvoidair blowing ability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The sanitizing apparatus is extracted from the fan module portion and positioned in a location that does not obstruct the airflow path. This repositioning reduces frictional resistance between the air and the sanitizing apparatus, thereby maintaining air blowing ability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

5Device complexity

If the case is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape with corners at the outer side, then the case structure is simple, but it causes inconvenience when held and creates gaps in cup holders leading to vibration and noise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecase structureVSAvoidhandling convenience and stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The case is designed with a curved surface instead of a rectangular parallelepiped shape. This curved configuration eliminates corners at the outer side, providing ergonomic convenience for holding and preventing gaps when mounted in cup holders, thereby reducing vibration and noise without significantly increasing structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively prevents filter contamination, maintains high air cleaning performance, reduces noise and vibration, and allows for easy carrying and mounting in various spaces.

Implementation Method 1

a sanitizing portion (210) installed between the filter portion (70) and the fan module portion (140) to sanitize the filter portion (70)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSanitizing light irradiation: Light

Data Source

PatentEP3945256B1Portable air caring apparatus
Publication Date: 2025.05.21 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3945256B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3945256B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3945256B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed herein is a portable air caring apparatus. The portable air caring apparatus according to the present invention may include a housing portion which has an accommodation space formed therein and includes an inlet portion configured to suction air and an outlet portion configured to discharge air, a filter portion installed at an inner side of the housing portion that faces the inlet portion, a fan module portion installed at an inner side of the housing portion that faces the outlet portion, a filter case in which the filter portion is detachably installed and which is disposed between the filter portion and the fan module portion and configured to guide movement of air from the filter portion to the fan module portion, and a sanitizing portion which is mounted on the filter case and configured to irradiate sanitizing light toward the filter portion.