Personal Air Filtration Device with Reduced Noise from Air Mover
A device for filtering air for a user comprising a rigid component comprising, a transparent face shield that provides a space for air between an inside surface of the face shield and the user's face, an intake port, through which intake air enters the device, an exhaust port, through which exhaust air exits the device, a fabric component affixed to the rigid component that, combined with the rigid component, covers the user's head and seals around the user's neck, an intake filter that filters intake air passing through the intake port, an exhaust filter that filters exhaust air passing through the exhaust port, and an air mover assembly mounted on the rigid component that moves intake air through the intake port and exhaust air through the exhaust port, wherein the air mover assembly is mounted on the rigid component by vibration absorbing members, to thereby reduce transmission of the vibration of the air mover assembly to the rigid member, thereby reducing noise from the air mover assembly within the device.
1 . A device for filtering air for a user comprising:
a rigid component comprising:
a transparent face shield that provides a space for air between an inside surface of the face shield and the user's face;
an intake port, through which intake air enters the device;
an exhaust port, through which exhaust air exits the device;
a fabric component affixed to the rigid component that, combined with the rigid component, covers the user's head and seals around the user's neck;
an intake filter that filters intake air passing through the intake port;
an exhaust filter that filters exhaust air passing through the exhaust port; and
an air mover assembly mounted on the rigid component that moves intake air through the intake port and exhaust air through the exhaust port;
wherein the air mover assembly is mounted on the rigid component by vibration absorbing members, to thereby reduce transmission of the vibration of the air mover assembly to the rigid member, thereby reducing noise from the air mover assembly within the device.
2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the air mover assembly comprises a fan supported by a housing.
3 . The device of claim 2 , wherein an air gap is left between the housing and the rigid component.
4 . The device of claim 3 , further comprising a flexible membrane over the air gap to reduce air flow through the air gap.
5 . The device of claim 3 , wherein the vibration absorbing members are elastic bands connecting the housing to the rigid component.
6 . The device of claim 5 , wherein each elastic band is attached at one end to a different corner of the housing and is attached at another end to a different point on the rigid component.
7 . The device of claim 6 , wherein the housing has a rectangular periphery and wherein an elastic band is attached at each of the housing's four corners.
8 . The device of claim 6 , wherein the rigid component further comprises a mounting frame surrounding either the inlet port or the outlet port, and wherein the mounting frame comprises mounting features for receiving the other ends of the elastic bands.
9 . The device of claim 8 , further comprising a membrane attached at its periphery to the mounting frame and comprising an aperture to allow flow of air moved by the fan.
10 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the membrane is attached around the periphery of the aperture to the housing.
11 . The device of claim 10 , further comprising a membrane attaching frame, wherein the periphery of the membrane is sandwiched between and thus held in place by the mounting frame and the membrane attaching frame.
12 . The device of claim 11 , wherein the mounting frame and the membrane attaching frame have similar dimensions.
13 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the flexible membrane comprises an elastomeric polymer.
14 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the mounting frame is attached to the rigid component with an adhesive tape.
15 . The device of claim 13 , wherein the adhesive tape provides further vibration isolation.
16 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the fan is a multi-speed fan.
17 . A device for filtering air for a user comprising:
a rigid component comprising:
a transparent face shield that provides a space for air between an inside surface of the face shield and the user's face;
a first and a second intake port, through each of which intake air enters the device;
a first and a second exhaust port, through each of which exhaust air exits the device;
a fabric component affixed to the rigid component that, combined with the rigid component, covers the user's head and seals around the user's neck;
a first and a second intake filter that filter intake air passing through the first and second intake ports, respectively;
a first and a second exhaust filter that filter exhaust air passing through the first and second exhaust port, respectively; and
a first and second air mover assembly mounted on the rigid component either over the first and second intake port, respectively, or over the first and second exhaust port, respectively;
wherein the first and second air mover assemblies are each mounted on the rigid component by vibration absorbing members, to thereby reduce transmission of the vibration of the air mover assemblies to the rigid member, thereby reducing noise from the first and second air mover assemblies within the device.
18 . The device of claim 17 , wherein the first and second air mover assemblies each comprise a fan supported by a housing.
19 . The device of claim 18 , wherein the fan is a variable speed fan that is adjusted to a lower speed, when appropriate, to further reduce the noise from the first and second air mover assemblies within the device.
20 . The device of claim 18 , wherein one of the fans first and second air mover assemblies can be turned off, when appropriate to further reduce the noise within the device.