Balanced Device Providing Filtered Air for a User
A device for filtering air for a user comprising a frame formed in a generally oval-shaped band, the band encircling the user's head, with an upper portion extending above and behind the user's ears and a lower portion extending below and in front of the user's ears. The device includes components mounted to the frame, comprising an air intake filter mounted on the frame and communicating on one side with ambient air outside the device and on the other side with an inlet duct and an air outlet filter mounted on the frame and communicating on one side with air inside the device and on the other side with ambient air outside the device. The device also includes a battery-powered air mover mounted on the frame and operable to pull air through the air intake filter and through the inlet duct and push air out into the inside of the device and a rechargeable battery mounted on the frame to power the air mover. The device further includes a transparent face shield mounted on one side of the frame in such a way as to create an airtight seal between the face shield and the one side of the frame, a fabric component made from an air impermeable fabric and mounted on the other side of the frame in such a way as to create an airtight seal between the fabric component and the other side of the frame, and to encircle the user's neck, a head harness configured to rest on the user's head and support the frame with its components mounted thereon, and wherein the components are mounted on the upper portion the frame and on the lower portion of the frame so as to achieve a weight distribution ratio between the upper portion of the frame with components mounted thereon and the lower portion of the frame with components mounted thereon, the ratio being between 1 to 1.5 and 1.5 to 1.
1 . A device for filtering air for a user comprising:
a frame formed in a generally oval-shaped band, the band encircling the user's head, with an upper portion extending above and behind the user's ears and a lower portion extending below and in front of the user's ears;
components mounted to the frame, comprising:
an air intake filter mounted on the frame and communicating on one side with ambient air outside the device and on the other side with an inlet duct;
an air outlet filter mounted on the frame and communicating on one side with air inside the device and on the other side with ambient air outside the device;
a battery-powered air mover mounted on the frame and operable to pull air through the air intake filter and through the inlet duct and push air out into the inside of the device;
a rechargeable battery mounted on the frame to power the air mover;
a transparent face shield mounted on one side of the frame in such a way as to create an airtight seal between the face shield and the one side of the frame;
a fabric component made from an air impermeable fabric and mounted on the other side of the frame in such a way as to create an airtight seal between the fabric component and the other side of the frame, and to encircle the user's neck;
a head harness configured to rest on the user's head and support the frame with its components mounted thereon; and
wherein the components are mounted on the upper portion the frame and on the lower portion of the frame so as to achieve a weight distribution ratio between the upper portion of the frame with components mounted thereon and the lower portion of the frame with components mounted thereon, the ratio being between 1 to 1.5 and 1.5 to 1.
2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the ratio is between 1 to 1.25 and 1.25 to 1.
3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the ratio is between 1 to 1.1 and 1.1 to 1.
4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein one of the battery-powered air mover and the rechargeable battery is mounted to the upper portion of the frame and the other of the battery-powered air mover and the rechargeable battery is mounted to the lower portion of the frame.
5 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the battery-powered air mover is mounted to the upper portion of the frame and the rechargeable battery is mounted to the lower portion of the frame.
6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the device has a center of gravity not more than 5 cm above or below the user's ear.
7 . The device of claim 6 , wherein the center of gravity is not more than 5 cm behind or in front of the user's ear.
8 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the center of gravity is not more than 2.5 cm above or below the user's ear and not more than 2.5 cm behind or in front of the user's ear.
9 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the device has a center of gravity not more than 5 cm behind or in front of the user's ear.
10 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the head harness comprises
a band that fits around and rests upon a top portion of the user's head and wherein the band of the head harness is adjustable in diameter to accommodate different sizes of user's heads; and
a strap that passes over a top portion of the user's head and wherein the strap of the head harness is adjustable in length to accommodate different sizes of user's heads.
11 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the device has a center of gravity and wherein the head harness is adjustable to place the center of gravity not more than 5 cm above or below the user's ear.
12 . The device of claim 11 , wherein the head harness is adjustable to place the center of gravity not more than 5 cm behind or in front of the user's ear.
13 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a head harness cover disposed between the transparent face shield and the head harness.
14 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the upper portion of the frame has a height (H U ) and the lower portion of the frame has a height (H L ), and wherein the ratio of H U to H L is in the range of 1.9-2.9.
15 . A device for filtering air for a user comprising:
a frame formed in a generally oval-shaped band, the band encircling the user's head, with an upper portion extending above and to the rear of the user's head and a lower portion extending below and in front of the user's mouth;
a first air inlet filter mounted on the frame so as to be on one side of the user's head, and communicating on one side with ambient air outside the device and on the other side with a first inlet duct;
a second air inlet mounted on the frame so as to be on an opposite side of the user's head, and communicating on one side with ambient air outside the device and on the other side with a second inlet duct;
a first air outlet filter mounted on the frame so as to be on the one side of the user's head and communicating on one side with air inside the device and on the other side with ambient air outside the device;
a second air outlet filter mounted on the frame so as to be on the opposite side of the user's head and communicating on one side with air inside the device and on the other side with ambient air outside the device;
a battery-powered air mover mounted on the frame and operable to move intake air through the first and second air inlet filter, through the first and second inlet duct and into the inside of the device;
a rechargeable battery mounted on the frame to power the air mover;
a transparent face shield mounted on one side of the frame in such a way as to create an airtight seal between the visor and the one side of the frame;
a fabric component made from an air impermeable fabric and mounted on an opposite side of the frame in such a way as to create an airtight seal between the fabric component and the opposite side of the frame, and to encircle the user's neck;
a head harness configured to rest on the user's head and support the frame with its components mounted thereon; and
wherein the components are mounted on the upper portion the frame and on the lower portion of the frame so as to achieve a weight distribution ratio between the upper portion of the frame with components mounted thereon and the lower portion of the frame with components mounted thereon, the ratio being between 1 to 1.5 and 1.5 to 1.
16 . The device of claim 15 , wherein the air mover is mounted to the upper portion of the frame at its top and the battery is mounted to the lower portion of the frame at its bottom.
17 . The device of claim 15 , wherein the device has a center of gravity not more than 5 cm above or below the user's ear.
18 . The device of claim 17 , wherein the center of gravity is not more than 5 cm behind or in front of the user's ear.
19 . The device of claim 15 , wherein the device has a center of gravity not more than 5 cm behind or in front of the user's ear.
20 . The device of claim 15 , wherein the device has a center of gravity and wherein the head harness is adjustable to place the center of gravity not more than 5 cm above or below the user's ear.