Multi-function light and air filtration unit

• US 20060130446A1
• Filed: 10/26/2005
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Practical Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Practical Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Herbst, Walter
• Application Number:
  US11/259,670
• Publication Number:
  US 20060130446A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 55/385.100
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2273/30 Means for generating a circulation of a fluid in a filtration system, e.g. using a pump or a fan
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/0036 by adsorption or absorption
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/0086 Filter condition indicators

Abstract

The subject invention relates to combination lighting and air filtration units that provide illumination and filter air in a particular area. A lighting unit includes an illumination element and a housing with a rounded profile that encloses the illumination element. A conduit is adjacent to the housing wherein a filter is mounted within the conduit. An input fan draws air through the filter to produce filtered air and an output fan expels the filtered air.

Claims

1. A lighting unit, comprising:

an illumination element;

a housing with a rounded profile that encloses the illumination element;

a conduit that is adjacent to the housing;

a filter that is mounted within the conduit;

an input fan that draws air through the filter to produce filtered air; and

an output fan that expels the filtered air.

2. The lighting unit of claim 1, wherein the housing is made from a translucent material.

3. The lighting unit of claim 1, wherein the filter is at least one of a high efficiency particulate air filter, an electrostatic filter and a charcoal filter.

4. The lighting unit of claim 1, wherein the illumination element is at least one of a fluorescent bulb, an incandescent bulb, a high intensity discharge bulb and a compact fluorescent bulb.

5. The lighting unit of claim 1, further including:

a ballast that delivers external power to the illumination element.

6. The lighting unit of claim 1, further including:

a signal lamp that indicates when a condition exists that requires attention from a user.

7. The lighting unit of claim.6, further including:

a personal computer board that is programmed to toggle the signal lamp based on a predetermined condition.

8. The lighting unit of claim 7, wherein the signal lamp is a light emitting diode.

9. The lighting unit of claim 7 wherein the condition is at least one of filter replacement, illumination element replacement, fan malfunction and fan replacement.

10. The lighting unit of claim 1, further including:

a fan speed regulator that controls the speed of the input fan and the output fan.

11. The lighting unit of claim 10, wherein the speed of the input fan and the output fan is based on at least one of a time interval, quality of air and length of filter use.

12. The lighting unit of claim 11, further including:

a filter reset switch that interfaces with the personal computer board to reset one or more predetermined filter values.

13. A lighting unit, comprising:

an illumination element;

a diffuser with a rounded profile that encloses the illumination element;

a conduit that is adjacent to the housing;

a combination HE?PA-charcoal filtration element that is mounted within the conduit;

an input fan that draws air through the filtration element to produce filtered air; and

an output fan that expels the filtered air.

14. The lighting unit of claim 13 wherein the diffuser is shaped one of octagonal, hexagonal, circular, elliptical and oval.

15. The lighting unit of claim 13 wherein the conduit is shaped one of octagonal, hexagonal, circular, elliptical and oval.

16. The lighting unit of claim 13 wherein the illumination element is at least one of a circline fluorescent lamp, a linear fluorescent lamp, a u-bent fluorescent lamp, a halogen lamp, an incandescent lamp, a high intensity discharge lamp, a mercury vapor lamp, a halogen lamp, a xenon lamp and a sodium lamp.

17. The lighting unit of claim 13, wherein an air seal surrounds at least one of the input fan and output fan.

18. The lighting unit of claim 13, further including:

a filtration element guide that fixes the location and allows removal of the filtration element.

19. A multi-function appliance, comprising:

at least one light bulb;

a housing with that encloses the illumination element,

an indication lamp that is proximate the illumination element;

a personal computer board that illuminates the indication lamp based on at least one predetermined condition;

a conduit that is adjacent to the housing;

a combination HEPA-charcoal filtration element that is mounted within the conduit;

an input fan that draws air through the filtration element to produce filtered air;

an output fan that expels the filtered air; and

a fan speed regulator that varies the speed of at least one of the input fan and the output fan.

20. The multi-function appliance of claim 19, wherein the predetermined condition is at least one of filter replacement, illumination element replacement, fan malfunction and fan replacement.