Filtration unit

Abstract

A filter is disclosed for filtering air in a confined space such as the interior of a motor vehicle, for example, to reduce the quantity of airborne contaminants.

1 . A filtration unit for removing contaminants from air comprising: 
 a housing defining a cavity therein;    at least one air inlet communicating with the cavity;    at least one air outlet communicating with the cavity;    a fan for producing a flow of air along a path from the inlet to the outlet; and    an air filter disposed in the flow of air between the inlet and the outlet to remove contaminants from the flow of air.    
   
   
       2 . The filtration unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the air filter is a smoke filter.  
   
   
       3 . The filtration unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing is adapted to be received by a headliner of a vehicle.  
   
   
       4 . The filtration unit according to  claim 3 , wherein the housing includes a hook and loop fastener disposed on a portion thereof for connecting to a cooperative hook and loop fastener disposed on a headliner of a vehicle.  
   
   
       5 . The filtration unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing is adapted to be received by an aperture formed in an overhead counsel of a vehicle.  
   
   
       6 . The filtration unit according to  claim 1 , further comprising a switch in electrical communication with the fan for selectively operating the filtration unit.  
   
   
       7 . The filtration unit according to  claim 6 , wherein the switch is disposed in the housing.  
   
   
       8 . The filtration unit according to  claim 6 , wherein the switch includes a means for selectively adjusting a speed of the fan.  
   
   
       9 . The filtration unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing is adapted to receive an air freshener therein.  
   
   
       10 . The filtration unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the air inlet is formed from a plurality of spaced apart openings formed on a first wall of the housing.  
   
   
       11 . The filtration unit according to  claim 10 , wherein the air outlet is formed in a sidewall of the housing.  
   
   
       12 . The filtration unit according to  claim 11 , wherein the air inlet and the air outlet are removable from the housing.  
   
   
       13 . The filtration unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the air filter is removable from the housing.  
   
   
       14 . The filtration unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the air filter includes at least one of a HEPA filter, a particulate filter, a volatile organic compound filter, an allergenic filter, and a charcoal filter.  
   
   
       15 . A filtration unit for removing contaminants from air comprising: 
 a housing defining a cavity therein, the housing adapted to be received by a headliner of a vehicle;    at least one air inlet communicating with the cavity;    at least one air outlet communicating with the cavity;    a fan for producing a flow of air along a path from the inlet to the outlet; and    an air filter disposed in the flow of air between the inlet and the outlet to remove contaminants from the flow of air.    
   
   
       16 . The filtration unit according to  claim 15 , wherein the housing includes a hook and loop fastener disposed on a portion thereof for connecting to a cooperative hook and loop fastener disposed on a headliner of a vehicle.  
   
   
       17 . The filtration unit according to  claim 15 , further comprising a switch disposed in the housing and in electrical communication with the fan for selectively operating the filtration unit.  
   
   
       18 . The filtration unit according to  claim 17 , wherein the switch includes a means for selectively adjusting a speed of the fan.  
   
   
       19 . The filtration unit according to  claim 15 , wherein the housing is adapted to receive an air freshener therein.  
   
   
       20 . A filtration unit for removing contaminants from air comprising: 
 a housing defining a cavity therein, the housing including at least a first wall and at least one sidewall formed thereon;    at least one air inlet communicating with the cavity, the at least one air inlet formed in the first wall of the housing and removable from the housing;    at least one air outlet communicating with the cavity, the at least one air outlet formed in the at least one sidewall of the housing and removable from the housing;    a fan for producing a flow of air along a path from the inlet to the outlet; and    an air filter disposed in the flow of air between the inlet and the outlet to remove contaminants from the flow of air.