Portable Air Filter for Vent Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Public interior spaces such as airplanes, hotels, and cruise ships often have poor air quality due to inadequate maintenance and cleaning of ventilation systems, leading to increased illnesses among travelers.
Innovation Solution
A portable air filtration device with an adjustable semi-permeable filter that can be easily installed over air vents using various attachment methods (double-face adhesive, hook and loop fastener, and magnetic adhesive) to provide an additional layer of air purification, reducing the spread of germs and contaminants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If regular maintenance and cleaning of ventilation systems is performed, then air quality is improved, but the reliability of air quality improvement is insufficient because maintenance regularity and quality cannot be controlled by users
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the air filtration function from the central ventilation system by providing a portable filter device that operates independently. Users can attach this filter directly to air vents in hotel rooms, airplanes, and other transient spaces, creating a localized filtration system that does not depend on the reliability or maintenance schedule of the building's central HVAC system.
Solution Approach 2:
The portable filter acts as an intermediary between the potentially contaminated air from the ventilation system and the user. It provides a second line of defense by filtering air at the point of use, mediating the air quality issue without requiring control over the upstream ventilation system maintenance.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a portable air filter device is added over the vent, then a second line of defense against germs is provided, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air filtration system is segmented into a portable, standalone unit that can be independently attached to any air vent. This segmentation allows the filtration function to be separated from the complex central HVAC system, creating a simple, self-contained device with a filter element and attachment mechanism that users can easily deploy and remove.
Solution Approach 2:
The portable filter is designed as a temporary, easily replaceable component rather than a permanent installation. The filter element can be replaced or the entire device removed when transitioning between locations, making it suitable for transient environments like hotels and airplanes without requiring complex permanent installation infrastructure.
3Adaptability or versatility
If an adjustable filter with membrane is used to fit over air vents, then adaptability to different vent sizes is improved, but the ease of manufacture decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The filter incorporates adjustable components such as flexible membranes and expandable frames that can dynamically adapt to different vent geometries. The membrane can flex and conform to various opening shapes, while the frame structure can expand or adjust its dimensions to match different vent sizes, providing versatility without requiring multiple fixed-size filters.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter uses flexible membranes and thin film materials that can bend and conform to different vent shapes and sizes. This flexibility allows a single filter design to adapt to various opening geometries in different locations, from rectangular hotel room vents to circular airplane vents, without requiring complex rigid adjustment mechanisms.
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 portable air filtration device effectively improves air quality by reducing the concentration of contaminants, providing a second line of defense against unsanitary air particles and germs, thereby reducing the incidence of illnesses among users.
Implementation Method 1
a portable air filter device that includes a semi-permeable air filter disposed within a frame
Implementation Method 2
magnetic adhesive
Data Source
AI summary
A portable air filter and method of use are provided. The portable air filter includes a semi-permeable air filter, optionally disposed within a frame. An attachment surface, such as an adhesive, is disposed on the frame, for attaching the portable air filter to an air vent. In certain embodiments, a second air filter and frame are slidably connected to the frame. If the portable air filter is not disposed within a frame, the portable air filter is cut to fit over an air vent, and an adhesive, such as tape, is provided for a user to attach the cut filter to fit over the air vent. The method includes attaching the portable air filter to an air vent by pressing the adhesive to a wall, ceiling, or floor such that the portable air filter covers the air vent. The invention is useful for improving air quality in a variety of spaces, including in an airplane, in a hotel, on a cruise ship, on a travel bus, and other public spaces.