Direct replacement air handler filter with automatic filter media advance
First Claim
1. A direct replacement automatic media advancing air handler filter within an air flow channel comprising:
- a unitary housing having a uniform thickness throughout the length and width of the unitary housing and an at least one exposure slot;
an at least one filter media storage area, having unexposed filter media stored therein, the unexposed filter media being pleated, folded, and stacked to be compactly held within the at least one filter media storage area;
an at least one motor coupled to an independent power supply and in communication with a controller, the at least one motor moving an at least one movement member that pays out an unexposed portion of the at least one filter media into the at least one exposure slot and exposes the unexposed portion of the at least one filter media to the air flow channel creating an exposed portion of the at least one filter media, the exposed portion being paid out across an at least one supporting member with the at least one supporting member forcing the at least one filter media to fold at its pleats into a zig-zag pattern when placed into an air flow in the air flow channel and the paying out the at least one filter media being based on output from the controller; and
a containment area, wherein the exposed portion of the at least one filter media is collected and retained within the containment area.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention is directed to a direct replacement air handler filter that is placed within an air flow channel within an air handler unit having a unitary housing comprised of at least one of an environmentally friendly plastic, cellulose, cardboard, paper or similar material with a uniform thickness throughout its length and width and having an exposure slot there through. The unitary housing being sealed throughout to prevent opening of the unitary housing by a user and containing a motor coupled to a lithium ion battery power source. The motor being in communication with a controller having an at least one sensor input or a timer. A filter media storage area can be located on one end of the unitary housing, with a pleated, folded filter media folded and compactly stored inside the filter media storage area, and an exposed filter media containment area located on an opposed end within the unitary housing with the filter media extending therebetween. The filter media being paid out from the filter media storage area across the housing where it is exposed to air within the air flow channel and removes contaminants from the air and is further passed through a seal that seals the containment area where the filter media is re-folded, collected, and compactly stored with the filtered contaminants. The motor can be activated by said controller in response to input from the at least one sensor or based on a timed input from said timer and rotate an at least one movement member to move the filter media across the exposure area.
-
Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A direct replacement automatic media advancing air handler filter within an air flow channel comprising:
-
a unitary housing having a uniform thickness throughout the length and width of the unitary housing and an at least one exposure slot; an at least one filter media storage area, having unexposed filter media stored therein, the unexposed filter media being pleated, folded, and stacked to be compactly held within the at least one filter media storage area; an at least one motor coupled to an independent power supply and in communication with a controller, the at least one motor moving an at least one movement member that pays out an unexposed portion of the at least one filter media into the at least one exposure slot and exposes the unexposed portion of the at least one filter media to the air flow channel creating an exposed portion of the at least one filter media, the exposed portion being paid out across an at least one supporting member with the at least one supporting member forcing the at least one filter media to fold at its pleats into a zig-zag pattern when placed into an air flow in the air flow channel and the paying out the at least one filter media being based on output from the controller; and a containment area, wherein the exposed portion of the at least one filter media is collected and retained within the containment area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A direct replacement air handler filter system within an air flow channel within an air handler unit comprising:
-
a unitary housing comprised of at least one of at least one of an environmentally friendly cellulose, an environmentally friendly cardboard, an environmentally friendly paper, and an environmentally friendly organic plastic like compound or plastic having a uniform thickness of between about one inch and three inches throughout its length and width and having an exposure slot there through and the unitary housing being sealed throughout to prevent opening of the unitary housing; a motor coupled to a lithium ion battery power source and in communication with a controller having an at least one sensor input or a timer; and a filter media storage area located on one end of the unitary housing, with a pleated, folded filter media folded and compactly stored inside the filter media storage area, and an exposed filter media containment area located on an opposed end within the unitary housing with the filter media extending therebetween, the filter media being paid out from said filter media storage area across the housing and the exposure slot while being supported by an at least one support member where it is exposed to air within the air flow channel and folds along its pleats into a zig-zag pattern and removes contaminants from the air and is further passed through to a containment area where the filter media is re-folded, collected, and compactly stored with the filtered contaminants, the motor being activated by said controller in response to input from the at least one sensor or based on a timed input from said timer and moving an at least one movement member to move the filter media across the exposure area.
-
-
15. A method of moving a pleated filter media within a uniform length and width, direct replacement air handler filter frame comprising the method steps of:
-
storing an unexposed folded, pleated filter media compactly within an at least one filter media storage area storage; engaging an at least one motor coupled to an independent power supply in communication with a controller and the at least one motor moving an at least one movement member; paying out through the movement of the at least one movement member by the at least one motor an unexposed portion of the at least one filter media into an at least one exposure slot and exposing the unexposed portion of the at least one filter media to the air flow channel creating an exposed portion of the at least one filter media, the exposed portion being paid out across an at least one supporting member with the at least one supporting member forcing the at least one filter media to fold at its pleats into a zig-zag pattern when placed into an air flow in the air flow channel and the paying out of the at least one filter media being based on output from the controller; and collecting in a containment area the exposed portion of the at least one filter media and retaining it within the containment area.
-
Specification