Air filter system for a vertical air blowing fan

• US 6,344,065 B1
• Filed: 10/26/2000
• Issued: 02/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Boulva, Paul
• Original Assignee: Boulva, Paul
• Inventors: Boulva, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Simmons, David A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, MINH CHAU THI
• Application Number:
  US09/695,831
• Time in Patent Office: 467 Days
• Field of Search: 553/851, 553/852, 554/67, 554/71, 554/72, 554/73, 554/96, 555/01, 554/93
• US Class Current: 55/471
• 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 2279/50 for air conditioning air-conditioning systems comprising filters F24F8/10
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/543 using membranes

Abstract

A vertical air blowing fan having an air filter is described. The vertical fan has an elongated housing provided with a foot support for maintaining the housing upright. The housing is provided with an air inlet opening and an air outlet opening. A cylindrical fan is provided in the housing for drawing ambient air in the inlet opening and out through the outlet opening in a substantially tangential path inside the housing to create a substantial airflow in an area outside the housing. A filter retention member secures a filter frame curved over and against the air inlet opening. The air filter membrane is removably engageable across the opening. The filter membrane is capable of holding its shape when held in position. The filter membrane is retained outwardly curved tight against the air inlet opening of the housing wall whereby the filter delineates a convex shape against the air being drawn into the inlet opening to resist deformation. It is noted that all the ambient air is accordingly drawn through the filter.

Claims

1. A vertical fan having an air filter and comprising an elongated housing having support means for maintaining same upright, an air inlet opening in a curved detachable rear wall section of said housing, an air outlet opening in a front wall section of said housing, a cylindrical fan in said housing for drawing ambient air in said inlet opening and out through said outlet opening, said air being convected in a substantially tangential path through said housing and creating a substantial air flow in an area outside said housing, filter retention means for removably engaging a filter membrane against a curved surface of said curved rear wall and across said inlet opening to totally cover said inlet opening whereby air is only drawn through the filter, said filter membrane being capable of holding its shape when held in position against said curved surface, said curved surface being outwardly curved whereby said filter membrane delineates a convex shape against ambient air being drawn in said inlet opening.

2. A vertical fan and filter as claimed in claim 1 wherein said filter retention means is a detachable filter retention frame having openings for the passage of air and detachably securable about said inlet opening.

3. A vertical fan having an air filter as claimed in claim 2 wherein said filter retention member is provided with filter holding means along at least opposed inner vertical sides of said openings, said filter holding means being in abutment with at least portions of opposed side edges of said filter membrane.

4. A vertical fan having an air filter as claimed in claim 3 wherein said filter membrane is a rectangular shaped flat flexible filter membrane.

5. A vertical fan having an air filter as claimed in claim 3 wherein said filter holding means is provided by one or more straight side abutment ribs disposed along said opposed vertical sides of said openings, said filter when subjected to said air being drawn in said inlet opening undergoing an air compression force against its convex shaped outer surface, said compression force being arrested by said side abutment ribs.

6. A vertical fan having an air filter as claimed in claim 5 wherein said side abutment ribs are also provided with an upper inwardly projecting rib spaced from an inner surface of said filter retention member and defining thereunder a filter retention channel to receive a vertical side edge portion of said filter membrane captive therein.

7. A vertical fan having an air filter as claimed in claim 5 wherein said filter holding means is further provided with top and bottom positioning and retention ribs disposed along a top and bottom horizontal side of said openings, said side abutment ribs and top and bottom positioning and retention ribs being spaced apart a predetermined distance to receive a rectangular shaped filter membrane in close friction fit therebetween.

8. A vertical fan having an air filter as claimed in claim 7 wherein said filter membrane is in compression friction fit between at least said side abutment ribs in order to maintain the filter curved in compression against said inlet opening and inner wall, whereby to present a resisting force against said compression force.

9. A vertical fan having an air filter as claimed in claim 7 wherein said filter membrane is constituted by a homogeneous flat flexible sheet of synthetic washable air filtering material.

10. A vertical fan having an air filter as claimed in claim 7 wherein said filter membrane is constituted by a composite filter sheet having a flexible contour frame and a filter sheet, and finger engagement means for ease of location and removal of said locating ribs in said locating channels.

11. A vertical fan having an air filter as claimed in claim 3 wherein said filter retention member is constituted by a flat flexible plastic frame member having engageable means for removably securing on an outer surface of said curved rear wall over said inlet opening.

12. A vertical fan having an air filter as claimed in claim 11 wherein said flexible plastic frame member is provided with spaced transverse ribs to define a plurality of slot openings to protect said filter sheet clamped therebehind.

13. A vertical fan having an air filter as claimed in claim 1 wherein said filter retention means is constituted by filter holding ribs disposed along opposed vertical sides of said inlet opening and projecting from an inner surface of said curved detachable rear wall, said ribs being disposed such that at least portions of opposed side edges of said filter membrane are in friction fit therewith to hold said filter membrane in an arcuate shape in pressure against said inner curved surface.

14. A vertical fan having an air filter as claimed in claim 13 wherein there is further provided a flexible filter retention frame detachably positioned over said filter membrane and retained by said filter holding ribs.

15. A vertical fan having an air filter as claimed in claim 14 wherein said filter retention frame has a contour frame and spaced transverse ribs to apply a retention force against inner surface portions of said filter membrane to hold it captive against said inner curved surface and across said inlet opening between said vertical holding ribs.

16. A vertical fan having an air filter as claimed in claim 15 wherein said contour frame is provided with locating ribs in opposed vertical side frame sections to be engaged in respective locating channels formed with said filter holding ribs.

17. A vertical fan having an air filter as claimed in claim 1 wherein said vertical fan is a free-standing vertical blowing fan, said support means being a support foot plate secured to a base of said housing.

18. A vertical fan having an air filter as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fan is a cylinder blowing fan having a plurality of curved fan blades.