IP Library Granted Patent US 7,906,080
Granted Patent B1
US 7,906,080 · App. 11/694,281 · Granted Mar 15, 2011

Air treatment apparatus having a liquid holder and a bipolar ionization device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,906,080
App. No.
11/694,281
Granted
Mar 15, 2011
Kind
B1
Abstract

An air treatment apparatus that includes a housing; a plurality of electrodes, at least one of which receives liquid from a liquid supply; and a power supply. The power supply is operable to establish an electric potential between a portion of the liquid-receiving electrode and the other electrode so that the air treatment apparatus produces a liquid mist having a bipolar distribution of liquid particles.

Claims (11)

1. An air treatment apparatus, comprising:

a plug-in housing having a plurality of electro-conductive prongs coupled to the housing, the prongs configured to plug into an electrical wall outlet that provides power to the housing, whereby the plug-in housing attaches to the electrical wall outlet via the prongs;

a fan disposed within the housing for drawing air in and out of the housing;

at least two separate liquid supply containers disposed within the housing;

a plurality of electrodes supported by the housing, including: (a) at least two liquid-receiving electrodes configured to respectively receive liquid from separate liquid supply containers; and (b) a second electrode coupled to the ground; and

a voltage supply operatively coupled to the at least two liquid-receiving electrodes, wherein the voltage supply provides a negative voltage to one liquid-receiving electrode and a positive voltage to the other liquid-receiving electrode.

2. The air treatment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the liquid supply container includes an aromatic liquid.

3. The air treatment apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the housing further comprises an air inlet and an air outlet, the air outlet further comprising a plurality of fins that facilitate air flow from the housing.

4. The air treatment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the voltage supply configured to generate a sequence of positive and negative voltage pulses.

5. The air treatment apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a liquid-receiving electrode has a conical shape and a porous structure.

6. The air treatment apparatus of claim 5 , wherein electric potential is generated between a tip of the liquid-receiving electrode and the second electrode.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 24, 2008
From: SHARPER IMAGE CORPORATION
To: SHARPER IMAGE ACQUISITION LLC
Reel/Frame 021730/0969 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 29, 2007
From: BOTVINNIK, IGOR Y.
To: SHARPER IMAGE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 019351/0757 →