CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit under Title 35 United States Code §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/255,893; Filed: Nov. 16, 2015; the full disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to systems and devices for providing circulation of ambient air through the ventilation of interior environments. The present invention relates more specifically to a portable ventilation system particularly useful for circulating the air surrounding a person resting or reclining on a flat surface such as a bed.
2. Description of the Related Art
The present invention improves upon a portable ventilation system generally described and claimed in issued U.S. Pat. No. 7,908,688, issued on Mar. 22, 2011, entitled Portable Ventilation System, Inventor: Kurt West Tompkins (the Inventor on the present Application). The full disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 7,908,688 is incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention fulfills many of the needs associated with providing ventilation to selected living spaces by way of the circulation of ambient air. The devices defined by the above referenced U.S. Pat. No. 7,908,688 and by the present invention, are especially well suited to providing ventilated air to a person resting on a bed by directing air flow from the room to the volume of space defined by the top surface of the mattress of the bed and a bed covering disposed thereon. The use of these devices and systems increase the ability of the individual to receive restful sleep by enabling convenient control of the air surrounding the person at a comfortable level.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention improves upon the structures and functions of the device disclosed in the above references issued U.S. Patent by incorporating specific new structures and new functionality to the device that improve its performance, increase its applicability to a variety of environments, and expand the manner of user control over the device. The portable ventilation system of the present invention includes a base component with a single central electric motor having two in-line opposing drive shafts connected to two centrifugal fans (squirrel cage fans) that direct air flow from inlet openings on the sides and center of the base unit, up into a vertically oriented fixed air plenum. A vertically oriented adjustable air plenum is positioned on and telescopes over the fixed air plenum to conduct a flow of air up from the base unit to an elevated height appropriate for exhausting the air flow into the environment. A top portion of the adjustable air plenum redirects the air flow ninety degrees through a horizontally oriented outlet. The adjustable air plenum may be set at a number of different positions on the fixed air plenum so as to vary the overall height of the system and the point at which the horizontal delivery of air flow is achieved. The device is preferably controlled by way of electrical/electronic control circuitry that may be manually switched on the device, or may be operated with a remote control. Heating elements may optionally be incorporated into the system at either the air flow inlet at the base unit or at the air flow outlet at the top of the adjustable air plenum.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention shown with the adjustable air plenum in a lowered position.
FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention shown with the adjustable air plenum in an elevated position.
FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention shown with the adjustable air plenum in a lowered position.
FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention shown with the adjustable air plenum in a lowered position.
FIG. 5 is a detailed perspective view of the top portion of the adjustable air plenum of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a detailed perspective view of the bottom portion of the adjustable air plenum of the present invention showing its attachment to the fixed air plenum and the base unit of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a detailed perspective view of the adjustable air plenum component of the present invention shown separated from the balance of the system.
FIG. 8 is a detailed perspective view of the fixed air plenum and the top of the base unit of the present invention shown with the adjustable air plenum removed.
FIG. 9 is a detailed top plan view of the fixed air plenum and the base unit of the present invention shown with the adjustable air plenum removed.
FIG. 10 is a detailed perspective view of the fixed air plenum and the base unit of the present invention shown with the adjustable air plenum in an elevated position.
FIG. 11 is an exploded assembly perspective view of the components that make up the air plenum positioning element of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is an assembled perspective view of the air plenum positioning element of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a partial cross-sectional view of the base unit of the present invention showing the central fan motor and two centrifugal fans.
FIG. 14 is a detailed rear elevational view of the base unit of the present invention.
FIG. 15 is a rear perspective view of an alternate preferred embodiment of the present invention with the adjustable air plenum in a lowered position.
FIG. 16 is a rear perspective view of the alternate preferred embodiment of the present invention disclosed in FIG. 15, with adjustable the air plenum in an elevated position.
FIG. 17 is a schematic block diagram showing the various essential system components and optional system components associated with the preferred embodiments of the present invention.
FIGS. 18A & 18B are perspective views of an optional heating element component of the present invention positioned on the adjustable air plenum at the air flow outlet of the system.
FIGS. 19A & 19B are a perspective view and a front elevational view, respectively, of an alternate optional heating element component of the present invention, again positioned on the air flow outlet of the adjustable air plenum.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Reference is made to FIGS. 1-4 for a description of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention and the various basic components of the system. Portable ventilation system 10 is generally made up of base unit 12 with an attached adjustable air plenum 14. Adjustable air plenum 14 is a generally vertically oriented box shaped air conduit that extends up from base unit 12 and terminates with a right angle turn through air exhaust port 16. FIG. 1 provides a front perspective view of the device showing the manner in which adjustable air plenum 14 sits on top of base unit 12 and directs air from base unit 12 up to air exhaust port 16. Base unit 12 is supported by a number of support structures formed as feet or sled rails shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4.
Adjustable air plenum 14 is positioned on fixed air plenum 22 (see FIG. 2) and is held in place on fixed air plenum 22 by way of air plenum positioning elements 20a & 20b. As seen in FIG. 2, these air plenum positioning elements 20a & 20b may be variably positioned on the sides of fixed air plenum 22 so as to appropriately support adjustable air plenum 14 at the height appropriate for a particular use. FIG. 1 therefore shows the first preferred embodiment of the present invention configured at its lowest height with FIG. 2 showing the same system configured at an elevated height by the re-positioning of adjustable air plenum 14 along with air plenum positioning element 20a & 20b on fixed air plenum 22, all in a manner described in more detail below.
Reference is next made to FIGS. 3 & 4 for elevational front and side views of the portable ventilation system, shown in the configuration represented generally in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 discloses the front of ventilation system 10 positioned as it would be against the foot (or the side) of a bed, for example, with base unit 12 positioned on the floor adjacent the bed, adjustable air plenum 14 extending upward along the foot (or side) of the bed (that is, the foot or side of the mattresses), to air exhaust port 16 which redirects the flow of air over the top surface of the bed. In FIGS. 3 & 4, base unit 12 is shown to include fan enclosures 24a & 24b positioned on support skids 18 with a central portion of base unit 12 enclosing an electric motor (not seen in this view) that drives the two centrifugal fans of the device. Power inlet plug 26 is configured to receive the necessary AC or DC power from a standard AC wall outlet, either directly into the unit or through an AC adaptor.
Positioned on a tangent plane of the generally cylindrical base unit 12 is fixed air plenum 22 that extends up to receive adjustable air plenum 14 in the manner described above. Air plenum support elements 20a & 20b are movably fixed on the sides of fixed air plenum 22 and support adjustable air plenum 14 in a variety of elevated positions.
Air flow within the device is directed by the electric motor and centrifugal fans and draws air in through the air inlet ports 28a & 28b positioned on the outward facing ends of fan enclosures 24a & 24b. The centrifugal fans enclosed within fan enclosures 24a & 24b draw air in through these axial center openings and direct air flow centrifugally outward where it is gathered by the walls of the enclosures and directed upward through the plenum inlet opening for fixed air plenum 22. Fixed air plenum 22 thereafter directs the flow of air through a generally rectangular cross-section conduit up into adjustable air plenum 14 and thereafter through the right angle re-direction at the top of adjustable air plenum 14 out through air exhaust port 16.
Reference is next made to FIGS. 5 & 6 for a description of the outlet and inlet portions of adjustable air plenum 14. FIG. 5 shows in detail the top portion of adjustable air plenum 14 with air exhaust port 16 configured at the terminal end of a right angle conduit 32. Air flow is directed horizontally outward from air exhaust port 16 and is channeled between exhaust vanes 30 to facilitate the horizontal flow orientation.
FIG. 6 shows the corresponding lower portion of adjustable air plenum 14 and the manner of its connection to base unit 12 by way of fixed air plenum 22. Base unit 12 provides the enclosure around the centrifugal fans as described above and is shaped through an air flow constriction portion 36 to confine the flow of air vertically within fixed air plenum 22. On either side of fixed air plenum 22 are positioned air plenum support elements 20a & 20b. These support elements are variably positioned on releasable attachment surfaces 34a & 34b described in more detail below. By moving air plenum support elements 20a & 20b up and down along the sides of fixed air plenum 22, the position of adjustable air plenum 14 above base unit 12 may be vertically set. This varies the height at which air exhaust port 16 directs a horizontal flow of air out from the portable ventilation system.
Reference is next made to FIG. 7 which shows adjustable air plenum 14 detached from the system of the present invention in a manner which discloses the cross-section of the plenum, as well as its overall walled construction. Adjustable air plenum 14 is generally configured with rear wall panel 43 and front wall panel 45, which are connected together by side walls 38a & 38b to form a generally rectangular cross-section 42 for the plenum. The shape of the edges where wall panels 43 & 45 meet side walls 38a & 38b is important with respect to the manner in which adjustable air plenum 14 slides over and is supported on fixed air plenum 22. These edge structures interact with air plenum support elements 20a & 20b in a manner described in more detail below with respect to FIG. 8. Once again, as seen in FIG. 7, air exhaust port 16 re-directs the flow of air through adjustable air plenum 14 to what would be a horizontal orientation when the system is upright and positioned for use.
FIG. 8 is a detailed view of the fixed air plenum 22 as it is structured on the top of base unit 12 (not seen in this view) and oriented in a vertical manner by which it supports adjustable air plenum 14. Fixed air plenum 22 is a similarly configured rectangular conduit, slightly smaller in dimensions than adjustable air plenum 14, so that adjustable air plenum 14 may slide over the structure of fixed air plenum 22. In the orientation shown in FIG. 8, front panel 44 of fixed air plenum 22 is parallel to and slides against front panel 45 of adjustable air plenum 14. Side walls 38a & 38b of adjustable air plenum 14 engage the side walls of fixed air plenum 22 down to the point where they contact air plenum support elements 20a & 20b. These support elements are structured with extended tabs that slide between side walls 38a & 38b of adjustable air plenum 14 and the respective sides of fixed air plenum 22. Releasable attachment surfaces 34a & 34b as shown in FIG. 8 allow for the variable positioning of support elements 20a & 20b vertically along the side wall edges of fixed air plenum 22.
FIGS. 9 & 10 show in additional detail the manner in which adjustable air plenum 14 is supported on, and may be variably positioned on, fixed air plenum 22. FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a portion of base unit 12 showing fixed air plenum 22 through its upper opening and disclosing rear panel 41 and front panel 44 of fixed air plenum 22 that together define the generally rectangular conduit opening 46 through which the air flows. On either side of this rectangular conduit on the exterior side walls of fixed air plenum 22, are air plenum support elements 20a & 20b. The curved configuration of the tabs on these support elements are designed to tightly engage the side walls of the opening of adjustable air plenum 14 (see FIG. 7) and to thereby support adjustable air plenum 14 in a variable position on fixed air plenum 22.
FIG. 10 shows the above described process and structure in greater detail. Releasable attachment surfaces 34a & 34b mate with opposing surfaces on the inside faces of support elements 20a & 20b and hold the elements in position along the side wall edges of fixed air plenum 22. Adjustable air plenum 14 may then be slid down over the top of the opening of fixed air plenum 22 up to the point where it engages air plenum support elements 20a & 20b. In this manner, the system of the present invention is structured to provide a horizontal flow of air at the height required by the user.
FIGS. 11 & 12 show in greater detail the structure of the air plenum support elements 20a & 20b positioned one on each side of fixed air plenum 22. FIG. 11 shows three basic components associated with each support element, including the support element 20b (typical) itself with a first releasable attachment surface 48b adhesively secured to the back face. Mating attachment surface 34b is adhesively positioned along the edge of fixed air plenum 22 which allows the combination of support element 20b and attachment surface 48b to be variably positioned along the length of attachment surface 34b to establish the desired height for adjustable air plenum 14. FIG. 12 shows the entire assembly secured together as on the side of fixed air plenum 22. The basic structure of air plenum support element 20b comprises a curved grip portion 54b from which extends an elongated tab portion 52b. Support element 20a incorporates similar elements.
Reference is next made to FIGS. 13 & 14 which provide additional detail on the structures and function of base unit 12 of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a partial cross-sectional view into the interior of the enclosure of base unit 12 disclosing in greater detail the centrifugal fan elements 60a & 60b and the electric motor element 56. Base unit 12 is generally made up of fan enclosures 24a & 24b which sit on either side of a central enclosure portion surrounding electric motor 56. Once again, power is provided to electric motor 56 by way of power inlet 58 in the preferred embodiment.
Electric motor 56 may preferably be a DC motor that receives current through an AC to DC convertor (such as an AC wall adaptor) to turn an extended through-the-motor drive shaft. The drive shaft of the motor, which extends outward from each side of motor 56, drives centrifugal fans 60a & 60b centrally positioned within fan enclosures 24a & 24b. The centrifugal fans 60a & 60b draw air in from a central axis and direct it outward into the enclosures 24a & 24b. Air inlet ports 28a & 28b are positioned on the sides of generally cylindrical base unit 12 to allow for this inflow of air to the centrifugal fans. Airflow constriction portion 36 then channels this centrifugal air flow upward through fixed air plenum 22 (not shown in FIG. 13).
FIG. 14 is a detailed elevational view of the rear of base unit 12, again showing the position of fan enclosures 24a & 24b on either side of the central motor enclosure, all of which are supported on skid supports 18. Air inlet ports 28a & 28b are disclosed on the sides of base unit 12. Additional airflow apertures 57 are provided through the enclosure surrounding electric motor 56 in order to add to the inflow of air and facilitate cooling of the motor during operation.
The embodiment of the present invention shown generally in FIGS. 1-4 and thereafter is configured to be of a variable height associated with a wide range of standard sized beds holding standard sized mattresses. In general, the height of the horizontal air flow may vary between twenty-seven and thirty-eight inches. FIGS. 15 & 16 disclose a nearly identical alternate embodiment of the present invention, with shorter components capable of operating with shorter and/or smaller bed frames and mattresses. In general, the height of the horizontal air flow from this alternate embodiment may vary between eighteen and twenty-nine inches. FIGS. 15 & 16 show the shorter version of the present invention in its lowest position (FIG. 15) and in an elevated position (FIG. 16). Otherwise, the various elements of this alternate preferred embodiment of the present invention configured for shorter bed frames and shorter mattress assemblies, is generally identical to the structures associated with the taller embodiment described above.
In FIGS. 15 & 16, portable ventilation system 70 is shown to be generally made up of base unit 72 with an attached adjustable air plenum 74. Adjustable air plenum 74 is again a generally vertically oriented box shaped air conduit that extends up from base unit 72 and terminates with a right angle turn through air exhaust port 76. FIG. 15 provides a rear perspective view of the device showing the manner in which adjustable air plenum 74 fits on top of base unit 72 and directs air from base unit 72 up to air exhaust port 76. Base unit 72 is supported by a number of support structures 78 formed as feet or sled rails shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 15 & 16.
Adjustable air plenum 74 is positioned on fixed air plenum 82 (see FIG. 16) and is held in place on fixed air plenum 82 by way of the same type of air plenum positioning elements as utilized in the first preferred embodiment. These air plenum positioning elements may be variably positioned on the sides of fixed air plenum 82 so as to appropriately support adjustable air plenum 74 at the height appropriate for a particular use. FIG. 15 therefore shows the alternate preferred embodiment of the present invention configured at its lowest height (with horizontal air flow approximately eighteen or nineteen inches above the floor) with FIG. 16 showing the same system configured at an elevated height (with horizontal air flow approximately twenty-eight or twenty-nine inches above the floor) accomplished by the re-positioning of adjustable air plenum 74 along with the air plenum positioning elements secured on fixed air plenum 82.
Reference is next made to FIG. 17 which provides a schematic block diagram showing the structural and functional relationships between the various components and elements of the system of the present invention. In this schematic view, the system of the present invention is shown to be structured around motor 56 with centrifugal fans 60a & 60b. Motor 56 is driven and controlled by motor control circuit 90 which, by way of wire control switches 92, receives its power from electrical power AC/DC source 94. Air flow from fans 60a & 60b (shown with large arrows) flows through fixed air plenum 22 up through adjustable air plenum 14 and out into the environment. One of the two optional heating elements 102 & 120 may be associated with the system of the present invention as described in more detail below. An optional heating element may preferably be positioned as heating element 102 at an air flow outlet placement or as heating element 120 at an air flow inlet placement. The optional heating element is controlled by heater control circuit 122 which receives both power and control signals by way of wire control switches 92, receiving electrical power from electrical power AC/DC source 94.
Further optional functionality associated with the system of the present invention is shown in FIG. 17 by way of a number of wireless remote control components. While motor control circuit 90 may be manually controlled through wire control switches 92, the system may also incorporate wireless receiver circuit 96 which is structured to receive control signals from wireless remote control 98. In the preferred embodiment, wireless remote control 98 provides a radio frequency (RF) signal to wireless receiver circuit 96 as there may not be line of sight communication between the remote and the system. Alternate wireless signal communications are also anticipated. Wireless receiver circuit 96 could, for example, be a Bluetooth® connection structured on the system of the present invention with wireless remote control 98 comprising a Bluetooth® transceiver device such as a smart phone. In other words, wireless remote control 98 may be a smart phone device configured with a software application to communicate control signals to the device by way of a short range Bluetooth® signal connection.
Both the wired control circuitry and the wireless control circuitry are preferably configured to direct not only the on/off condition of the system, but additional features such as fan speed, timed activation or deactivation, heating and cooling controls (essentially temperature settings), as well as other system condition information that the user might take advantage of at a remote device.
Reference is finally made to FIGS. 18A & 18B as well as FIGS. 19A & 19B for a brief description of two optional heating element assemblies that may be configured in association with the portable ventilation system of the present invention. FIGS. 18A & 18B disclose a heating element assembly 102 made up of an array of positive thermal coefficient (PTC) ceramic heaters 110a-110n which are configured within heating element enclosure 104 positioned on connection conduit 106 and fitted with thermal insulation support structure 108. Heating element assembly 102 is positioned as shown in FIG. 18B at the top of adjustable air plenum 14 by attachment to air exhaust port 16. Connector 106 has a geometry structured to be attached to air exhaust port 16 in the manner shown. Heating element enclosure 104 prevents direct contract between the bedding components and the array of ceramic heaters 110a-110n. Electrical connections between the heating element assembly 102 and the power supply for the overall system may be made through the constructed walls of adjustable air plenum 14 with appropriate accommodations made for the variable length electrical conductor required.
FIGS. 19A & 19B show an alternate embodiment for the optional heating element, again positioned at the upper end of adjustable air plenum 14. In FIG. 19A, heating element assembly 112 is seen as a single heating element 116 enclosed by a fully surrounding heating element enclosure 114. Heating element assembly 112 is similarly positioned on air exhaust port 16 and takes advantage of air exhaust vanes 30 to direct the flow of air horizontally through the heating element. FIG. 19B is a front elevational view of heating element assembly 112 positioned on air exhaust port 16 of adjustable air plenum 14.
Although the present invention has been described in connection with a number of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that further alternate embodiments may be implemented without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Variations in the cross-sectional dimensions of the air plenums, and in the variable overall height provided by the adjustable air plenum, are anticipated. Different types of electric motors, as well as different centrifugal fan blade configurations, are also anticipated in order to accommodate variable fan speed functionality, as well as alternate air flow conduction. In addition, the optional component systems described, including the heating elements as well as the wireless remote control functionality, may be implemented with a variety of different electrical/electronic circuits. Once again, those skilled in the art will recognize that these variations are anticipated by the above disclosure and do not depart from the fundamental elements of the invention.
