Air treatment system

• US 5,803,940 A
• Filed: 06/11/1996
• Issued: 09/08/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC (Alticor Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Amway Corporation (Alticor Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pippel, Bradley J., Aberegg, Dale, Rick, Bradley G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Woo, Jay H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOPKINS, ROBERT A
• Application Number:
  US08/661,375
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 248/188.8, 248/188.9, 55/495, 55/490, 55/385.2, 55/467
• US Class Current: 55/490
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/10 Particle separators, e.g. dust precipitators, using filter plates, sheets or pads having plane surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 1/0071 with means for purifying supplied air perfuming or deodorising means F24F1/008
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/77 by controlling the speed of ventilators
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/24 Means for preventing or suppressing noise
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/10 by separation, e.g. by filtering
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/108 using dry filter elements
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/158 using active carbon
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 8/80 Self-contained air purifiers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating

Abstract

An air treatment system having a relatively large capacity yet a relatively small footprint and low sound level. The air treatment system includes a housing defining adjacent vertically extending inlet and outlet chambers. A blower is mounted within the inlet chamber to move air through the system. A generally planar filter is contained within the outlet chamber and is spaced apart from the rear wall of the housing to define a plenum. The rear wall of the housing is curved so that the plenum is tapered to provide uniform pressure over the face of the filter. The system is adapted to rest upon the floor or mount either vertically or horizontal to a wall. Additionally, the system includes a control mechanism that allows the system to run at full speed for a predetermined period of time and then automatically return to its previous speed level.

Claims

1. An air treatment system comprising:

a housing having a rear extent and a contoured, non-planar bottom, said housing defining an interior space, said housing defining a pair of mounting slots;

a blower mounted within said space for moving air through said housing;

a filter element mounted within said space;

a pair of feet attached to said bottom for supporting said housing at a reversely inclined angle, said feet spaced apart from one another and each including a top wall having a periphery and being contoured to correspond in shape to said bottom of said housing and a side wall extending downwardly from said periphery of said top wall, said feet extending beyond said rear extent of said housing whereby said feet prevent said rear extent of said housing from abutting a vertical wall, each of said feet including a mounting flange extending from said top wall and fitted within one of said mounting slots; and

a threaded fastener means for securing said feet to said housing, said threaded fastener means extending through said top wall inwardly from said side wall whereby said threaded fastener means is hidden from view during normal use by said side wall.

2. An air treatment system comprising:

a housing having a rear, a rear extent, and a contoured, non-planar bottom, said rear defining a pair of mounting slots;

a filter element mounted within said housing;

a blower mounted within said housing for moving air through said filter;

a pair of feet spaced apart from each other and attached to said bottom for supporting said housing, said feet supporting said housing at a reversely inclined angle and extending beyond said rear extent of said housing to prevent said rear extent from abutting a vertical wall, each of said feet including a top wall having a periphery and being engaged with and corresponding in shape to said bottom and said rear and a side wall extending downwardly from said periphery of said top wall, each of said feet further including an installation flange fitted within one of said mounting slots; and

a threaded fastener means for securing said feet to said housing, said threaded fastener means extending through said top wall inwardly from said side wall whereby said threaded fastener means is hidden from view during normal use by said side wall.

3. The air treatment system of claim 2 wherein said housing includes a rear wall, said foot including a top wall engaged with and supporting a portion of said rear wall.