IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,285,062
Granted Patent B2
US 12,285,062 · App. 17/659,247 · Granted Apr 29, 2025

Air delivery system having dual configuration air filtration assembly

Inventors: James E. Vandendorpe (Naperville, IL); David L Vandendorpe (Athens, OH)
Assignee: EST OPTIMUM SUI LLC
A41D13/1184A41D13/1161A41D27/28A62B18/003A62B18/006A62B23/02B01D39/1623B01D46/0032B01D2239/0618
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,285,062
App. No.
17/659,247
Granted
Apr 29, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An air delivery system includes a visor having an outer peripheral edge and an inner peripheral edge. An air filtration assembly is removably mounted above an opening in the visor between the outer and inner peripheral edges, the air filtration assembly comprising a fan having an air inlet and an air outlet, an anode layer disposed over the air inlet, a filter layer disposed over the anode layer and a cathode layer disposed over the filter layer. In a first configuration, the air filtration assembly provides air flow toward an inner surface of the visor and, in a second configuration, the air filtration assembly provides air flow away from an outer surface of the visor. The air filtration assembly includes a mode actuator configured to control operation of a filtration mode indicator in dependence upon positioning of the air filtration assembly in the first or second configuration.

Claims (30)

1. An air delivery system comprising:

a visor having an outer peripheral edge and an inner peripheral edge configured to conform to and be positioned across a forehead of a user;

an air filtration assembly removably mounted above an opening in the visor between the outer and inner peripheral edges, the air filtration assembly comprising a fan having an air inlet and an air outlet, an anode layer disposed over the air inlet, a filter layer disposed over the anode layer and a cathode layer disposed over the filter layer, wherein air enters the air filtration assembly through the cathode layer and exits the air filtration assembly through the air outlet; and

a filtration mode indicator supported by the visor;

wherein the air filtration assembly provides, in a first configuration, air flow toward an inner surface of the visor and provides, in a second configuration, air flow away from an inner surface of the visor toward an outer surface of the visor,

and wherein the air filtration assembly includes a mode actuator configured to control operation of the filtration mode indicator in dependence upon positioning of the air filtration assembly in the first or second configuration.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a barrier positioned along the outer peripheral edge of the visor and extending substantially perpendicular to the visor.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the barrier is vertically configurable such that a distal edge of the barrier relative to the visor is configured to be extended past a chin of the user or retracted into proximity with the visor.

4. The system of claim 3 , further comprising:

barrier slide assemblies configured to retain the barrier in proximity to the outer peripheral edge of the visor and to permit vertical configuration of the barrier.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein each of the barrier slide assemblies defines a slot configured to receive a lateral edge of the barrier.

6. The system of claim 5 , further comprising:

a barrier support extending along the outer peripheral edge of the visor, where a biasing element biases the barrier into contact with the barrier support and biases the lateral edges of the barrier into the slots of the barrier slide assemblies.

7. The system of claim 2 , wherein the barrier is transparent.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a headband operatively connected to the visor and configured to fit around the head of the user.

9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a power assembly operatively connected to and electrically biasing the anode layer and the cathode layer.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the filtration mode indicator comprises a visual indicator operatively connected to the power assembly by a mode switch configured to interact with the mode actuator.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the mode switch is in an actuated state when the mode actuator interacts with the mode switch in the first configuration.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the mode switch is in a default state when the mode actuator does not interact with the mode switch in the second configuration.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the visual indicator is a bicolored LED.

14. The system of claim 9 , wherein the power assembly comprises at least one battery.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the at least one battery is rechargeable, the power assembly further comprising recharging circuitry operatively connected to the at least one battery.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the anode layer and cathode layer each comprise a conductive mesh sized to cover the air inlet.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the cathode layer comprise an opening in the conductive mesh larger than mesh openings of the conductive mesh and smaller than the air inlet.

18. The system of claim 1 , wherein the filter layer comprises an electrostatic non-woven polypropylene fiber material.

19. The system of claim 1 , wherein the air filtration assembly further comprises a sealing layer between the filter layer and the cathode layer.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the sealing layer is configured to provide a distance of approximately 1/16 th of an inch (1.6 mm) between the anode and cathode layers.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 25, 2022
From: VANDENDORPE, JAMES E.; VANDENDORPE, DAVID L.
To: EST OPTIMUM SUI LLC
Reel/Frame 059701/0601 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63201188 · Apr 16, 2021
Related Publication 20220330630A1 · Oct 20, 2022
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